It's official -- the Mules turn 15!

Last week the Mules finally reached their 15th anniversary,  so  now it’s official. Of course, Mules are as impatient as they are stubborn, so they jumped the gun by a month and a half and celebrated in August at Rancho Nicasio in front of an enthusiastic capacity crowd of friends and fans. Bandleader Geoff Mack’s sons, Kal and Kenny, and his nephew Connor made guest appearances with the band, giving folks a glimpse of the next generation of Mules. And the Cowtown Cowgirls provided line dance lessons, getting nearly the whole crowd onto the dance floor. All in all it was a night to remember, and a fitting performance to celebrate their [almost] 15th anniversary.
 
15 years. That truly is a Miracle. Oh sure, lotsa bands have lasted longer, but keep in mind that that's 15 human years -- it's a lot more like 50 in mule years!  And they did last longer than the Beatles.

The band was started in 2009 by 5 parents at Mary Silveira School (plus 2 ringers) to put on a show for the kids. They went pro the following year.  The first decade produced 2 CDs: 2012's Nice Ass & 2015's Swampy Tonkin'.  It also produced a lot of turnover (at least 5 drummers, 3 bass players, 3 pedal steel players, 3 accordion players and 3 singers!), leaving only bandleader Geoff Mack and washboard-ist Brian Dettor from the original septet.  The current 7-mule lineup finally came together in 2015, when singer Sandy Geller and steel player Charlie Fager joined up, and has remained intact ever since.  For you history buffs, you can read all the details of the 1st Mule decade here.

A few months after our 10th anniversary show, Covid happened and the lockdown started.  We managed to keep our sanity -- and hopefully that of some of our fans -- by doing occasional driveway concerts, plus shows at a few brave outdoor venues [thanks, Brewsters & Lagunitas!].  It also gave us a chance to get a good start on our 3rd CD, Romp in the Swamp.  In typically mulish fashion, we didn't manage to finish it until March 2022, when our Rancho Nicasio release party was a total sell-out.

We've done nearly 100 shows since our 10th anniversary. We have loved every minute of them, but here are a few of the highlights:

Sandy Gellar, Geoff Mack and Brian Dettor rockin’ out at Rancho Nicasio at the Mules 15th Anniversary show

  • Mardi Gras fund-raisers for the Marin Democrats (the first two via Zoom due to the pandemic, the third one, in 2023, live and featuring a two-song collaboration with our Congressman, Hon. Jared Huffman)

  • The August 2021 Fairfield Tomato Festival

  • Opening for The Boys of Summer (Eagles tribute band) at the San Rafael Elks Lodge in September 2021

  • The March 2022 CD Release Party at Rancho Nicasio for our third album, Romp in the Swamp

  • The 2022 & 2023 Marin County Fair

  • The 2023 Novato Art & Wine Festival

  • The 2023 Music by the Bay Summer Music Series at the Marin Rod & Gun Club

  • Fund-raisers for United Cerebral Palsy, the American Cancer Society and Lahaina fire relief (that one got us on the Channel 2 News!)

  • March 2024 – Geoff’s gala 60th birthday celebration at HopMonk/Novato

  • May 2024 appearance at the San Rafael Unitarian Congregation (the first time the Mule’s “The 12 Bar Blues” was played in a Unitarian Church since its debut performance in 1980)

  • June 2024 Marinwood Music In the Park (finally - the Mules’ first appearance at their home neighborhood’s annual event!)

  • July 2024 Point Richmond Music Festival (the Mule’s first all-originals show!)

  • And of course the August 2024 15th Anniversary show at Rancho Nicasio

Thanks a million to all you friends & fans who have made it such a blast and kept us going through all these years.  Mule on!

Dick Bay