Geoff Mack, the Mules' intrepid leader, will be turning 60 on March 2 (no, we can't believe it either).  There's going to be a huge birthday shindig in his honor at HopMonk in Novato -- and you're invited!  There will be lots of surprises -- so many and so surprising that we don't even know what they'll be yet. 

So take the cellophane off your new Kittens in Pajamas 2024 calendar, dig out your red Magic Marker and circle the date.  Or better yet, go ahead and order tickets now while you're thinking about it.  See y'all there!

If you came to any of our recent shows -- or perhaps even if you haven't -- you may have noticed that things are starting to get pretty chilly out there.  We haven't played an indoor public show all year long, but we're thinking it just may be time for all of us to come in out of the cold.  So this Friday you can leave your parkas and long underwear at home and join us -- indoors! -- at Tam Commons Tap Room & Kitchen in downtown San Rafael.

This will be our debut at Tam Commons, and we're hoping, come next year, it'll turn into a regular Mule stomping ground.  Word has it that it's a happening place where every hour is happy hour.  It's got a spacious interior with plenty of room for dancing.  They've also got 34 taps with a rotating selection of craft beers, the biggest selection of ciders in the area, plus wine, spirits & cocktails.  If you work up an appetite on the aforementioned dance floor and find yourself needing something a little less liquid, their menu features burgers, fried chicken, pulled pork, tacos, salads, etc.

Tam Commons is at 1300 4th Street, at the corner of 4th & C in downtown San Rafael.  Y'all come join us for our Tam Commons debut and our final swampy-tonk-tacular of 2023. 

October is an important month for us Mules.  For starters, the beginning of the month marked the band's 14th anniversary!  Speaking of anniversaries, October is also drummer/plumber Jimbo Lehmann's 10th anniversary with the Mules and keyboardist Dick Bay's 13th.  This month is also washboard-ist extraordinaire Brian Dettor's [??th] birthday.  Of course everyone loves Halloween, but even better is Oktoberfest -- who could not love a month-long festival all about drinking beer?

We've played at the Big Rock Deli nearly every month for the last 2 years and we're already looking forward to getting back to it next spring.  But sadly this Friday will be our final show there for 2023.  We've had a blast there all year long and are going to do it one last time and go out in style.  So we promise 3 hours of high octane swampy tonk music, plus Big Rock will have plenty of scrumptious barbeque, Mexican specialties and cold brews on hand to take care of any hunger and thirst that might strike you on or off the dance floor.

The Big Rock Deli is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael.  With anniversaries, birthdays, Halloween, Oktoberfest and an awesome run in 2023, we've got a lot to celebrate.  So y'all come on out Friday night and help us do it!

The Mules will be back for our 5th consecutive Wine Country Carnival.  This event is an annual fundraiser for United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay.  We always have a great time there and each year look forward to coming back.

The Wine Country Carnival is held at the beautiful Tuscan-styled Jacuzzi Family Vineyards in Sonoma.  The event warms up with fun carnival games to test your skill and coordination, and ends with raffles and silent auctions that give you a chance to win a variety of fabulous prizes.  Your ticket includes a sit-down dinner featuring amazing cuisine by Chef Munther Massarweh of Scrumptious Occasions (the operative word being "scrumptious"), plus live swampy-tonk music by . . . you-know-who! 

The UCP of the North Bay is well known for all the unique recreational activities that they provide for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The generous support of Wine Country Carnival ticket buyers and event sponsors, as well as raffle and silent auction donors, help make these unique programs possible.  Miracle Mule is happy once again to be a part of this event supporting this very worthy cause.

Tickets are still available, but the event has limited capacity and they expect it to sell out, so order your tickets early!

The Jacuzzi Winery is at 24724 Arnold Drive (Highway 121) in Sonoma.  Come join us for a night of fun, games, prizes, fine dining . . . and dancing!

Live hula dancers, a succulent roast pig, and great swampy tonk music -- you're just never going to find a more authentic luau experience on a Wednesday night in Novato ever again.  Even better, just by enjoying an awesome dinner and a night of fun you'll be helping Lahaina fire relief.  The three Novato Rotary clubs have teamed up to sponsor the "Heart for Lahaina" fundraiser – 7 nights at 7 restaurants.  Blazers’ night is Wed Sept 20, and they will donate a percentage of the night’s receipts to the Lahaina Rotary’s Fire Relief Fund -- but only if you mention the "Heart for Lahaina" fundraiser when you place your order.  The Mules are very happy to be a part of this special evening and promise to be extra fired-up – as will the Blazers smoker -- for the festivities.  And yes, Blazers will be roasting a pig special for the occasion.  And you're definitely not going to want to miss a very special appearance by the Hale Aloha hula group. 

Now don't try to tell us you already have plans for Wednesday night -- nobody ever has plans for Wednesday nights!  And sure, it's a school night, but we'll have you on your way home, well fed and happy, by 9:00, in plenty of time to get your beauty sleep.  But if you seriously can't make it, this fund-raiser will be going on at other restaurants from Sept 18-23 (see schedule below) or donations can also be mailed to 100 Galli Dr, Ste. 5, Novato CA 94949.  Make checks payable to RCNS Foundation (Rotary Club of Novato Sunrise Foundation) and note Hearts for Lahaina in the memo line.  Include your name and address to receive a letter from the foundation for your taxes.

Blazers Smokehouse is at 7380 Redwood Blvd (actually on the frontage road on the east side of Redwood, just north of Grant) in downtown Novato.  So y’all come on out and don't forget to mention "Heart for Lahaina" when you place your order. 

Sponsored by the 3 Novato Rotary Clubs: Rotary Club of Novato Sunrise, Rotary Club of Novato, Rotary Club of Ignacio

The Mules will be back at Big Rock this coming Saturday.  Well, most of the Mules -- our drummer extraordinaire, Jimbo Lehmann, will be taking the day off.  He submitted his time-off request in triplicate and HR has approved it, so what can we do?  Can this show be saved?

Meanwhile, we were recently shocked to discover -- as I'm sure you will be too -- that our very own bandleader, Geoff Mack, has been seeing another band behind our backs!  Indeed, it seems that he has been secretly playing lead guitar for 50s/60s garage classics band, the Road Runners.  [Now that you mention it, I thought their guitar player looked strangely familiar.]  But the good news is that the Road Runners have their own drummer, namely Phil Sollar, and Phil also knows how to play Swampy Tonk (or at least he will by Saturday).  So Phil has agreed to be a Mule-for-a-day.  Hooray, the day is saved, the show will go on, and you can count on hearing the familiar Miracle Mule sound that you love to drink and dance to!

Just because Jimbo is taking the day off, don't get the idea that you can too.  You'll want to be there for our last Big Rock show of the summer (we'll be back Friday Oct 20, but that'll be a whole 'nother season).  You'll want to enjoy the family-friendly vibes, the barbequed ribs, chicken or tri-tip, or tacos or quesadillas, and of course their extensive selection of brews.

The Big Rock Deli is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael.  Y'all come and find out for yourselves the answer to the age-old riddle: what do you get when you cross a Mule with a Road Runner?

For all our Brentwood friends, we'll be doing our annual show at your local Senior Activity Center at 193 Griffith Lane.  We're looking forward to seeing you there.

The morning after our last Blazers show the Mules gathered online to compare notes.  "Last night was magic," said bandleader Geoff, "a wonderful night."  Our resident Mule-ette, Sandy, chimed in, "What a great time last night!" "Ya, we rocked the house," agreed bass player Mark.  No rabbits were pulled from hats; no audience members were sawed in half, but a little bit of magic does seem to happen every time the Mules and Blazers come together.  "Great time!" exclaimed drummer Jim, "people dancing does it for me."  And there you have the other ingredient.  Usually our newsletter banner is a photo of the band, but this time our percussionist Brian, turned his camera towards the dancers and caught just a little glimpse of that night's magic.

This Friday you can expect more of the same.  Blazer's is our favorite place to play in Novato these days, and we're happy to report that the Blazers' owners say the Mules are their favorite band.  Hopefully you agree with them, but if you haven’t yet checked out Blazers, it’s time you did.  You’ll be in for a treat -- like BBQ brisket or smoked chicken wings or shrimp tacos, not to mention their variety of beers, ciders, wines & cocktails, and plenty of fun, friendly vibes.

Blazers Smokehouse is at 7380 Redwood Blvd (actually on the frontage road on the east side of Redwood, just north of Grant) in downtown Novato.  So y’all come on out and help us make Friday night extra-magical.

For unknown reasons we have trouble keeping our start and end times in sync with Big Rock's web site, which can be problematic for those of you who understandably prefer to avoid arriving too early or too late.  It's like one of us is in a time warp or on Mountain Time (considered by some to be the same thing). As of a week ago, our website showed 4-7pm and Big Rock's showed 5-8pm.  Oops.  But as it turns out we were both wrong.  So the official time now is 3-6pm (no matter what the websites say).  Ok now that we've got that straight . . . 

Your Mules will be bringing our A-game, kicking the afternoon into high gear, with plenty of rockin' sounds and down home fun.  You're invited to bring yourselves, your kids, your dogs, your dancing shoes and your appetites (or work one up on the dance floor once you get there). Your host Rene will have some savory BBQ ribs, chicken, brisket etc. on hand as well as tacos and burritos.  Not to mention a wide assortment of fine brews to handle an August afternoon thirst.

The Big Rock Deli is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael.  OK, y'all synchronize your watches and we'll see you Sunday.  What time was that again? You got it -- 3:00!  Don't be late.

Years ago we were in Monterey, checking the brochure rack for ideas on what to do, and were surprised to spot one entitled "Novato -- The Place to Be!"  Well, nowadays, the place to be in Novato is Blazers Smokehouse.  That's right where the Mules will be this Friday evening -- and so should you!

Face it, you're not going to feel like cooking Friday night, and even if you did, you're not going to be able to pull off BBQ brisket or smoked chicken wings or shrimp tacos like Blazers does.  And you're not going to have on hand the variety of beers, ciders, wines & cocktails that they do.  Sure you could order from DoorDash, but it wouldn't come with live music (hmmm, now there's an idea).  To get the whole family friendly / party positive experience you're just going to have to show up in person.  We promise the Blazers smoker will be all fired up -- and so will the Mules!

Blazers Smokehouse is at 7380 Redwood Blvd (actually on the frontage road on the east side of Redwood, just north of Grant) in downtown Novato.  So come on out and help us blaze a trail to Blazers.  It's the place to be!

The Relay for Life is an event to celebrate cancer survivors and care givers and to raise money for the American Cancer Society to help fund life-saving research, crucial patient care programs and more.  The Mules will be on hand to provide the musical entertainment, and you are invited to come, to get involved, and to enjoy the music (maybe even dance!)  Cancer touches all of our lives -- yes, even the Mules -- and we are very happy to be part of this very worthwhile program.  

The Relay for Life will be held at Loma Verde Elementary School, 399 Alameda De La Loma in Novato.  Come on out, enjoy your favorite swampy-tonk band and support a great cause!  But if you just can't make it Saturday you can still help by making your donation here.

This Friday evening the Mules will return to Ounces Outdoors (or for you metric system enthusiasts, 29.57 Milliliters Outdoors) at the Northgate shopping center.  As you may know, they're planning to demolish parts of the mall to put in apartments, an IMAX theater and some trendy new shops and restaurants.  We're pretty confident they won't be starting on that between now and Friday, so you shouldn't need to wear a hardhat (a cowboy hat would be cool, though).  We're also pretty confident you won't need to huddle up next to one of their outdoor heaters Friday evening, as it looks like summer has finally shown up for real.

Ounces Outdoors is a fun dog-friendly hangout, with craft beer, cider, wine, snacks, a variety of hot dogs (including veggie dogs), bocce ball courts and good vibes.  And of course they'll have some great Mule music, so you can dance your hooves off!  The architects would be smart to just design the new Northgate around this little oasis of fun.

Ounces Outdoors is at 5800 Northgate Drive in San Rafael, right next to Kohl's, where the skating rink used to be.  Y'all bring your friends and neighbors and join us for an evening of swampy-tonk fun.  And if it makes you feel better, sure, go ahead and wear the hard hat.

Did you miss us?  Except for those too-cold-to-play-outdoors winter months, we've played at Big Rock every month since October 2021.  Until last month.  We don't even remember now why we skipped June, but we must have had a good reason.  In any case, we'll be back this Saturday -- and hopefully, you will too!

We'll be back with the familiar Swampy Tonk sounds you know and love -- but we promise we'll also have a coupla new tunes that we know you're gonna enjoy.

Big Rock, of course, is still the comfortable neighborhood hangout that's kid-friendly and dog-friendly -- and Mule-friendly!  [Hey, but what about cats?  Why do cats seem to feel so unwelcome there?  Is this a cat-hostile environment and a class action discrimination suit just waiting to happen?  OK, sorry, now back to the newsletter...]  And your host Rene will have some savory BBQ (ribs, chicken, brisket etc.) or Mexican specialties for you when you get hungry, and an assortment of fine brews for when you get thirsty.

We're sorry we didn't make to Big Rock last month, but we're back to our monthly timetable now, so plan on making this a regular thing again.  Here's the schedule:

     Sunday, August 20
     Saturday Sept 16
     Friday Oct 20

The Big Rock Deli is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael.  Hope to see all y'all big rockers there!  And please, just this once, bring the cat.

On July 3 we'll be back at the Marin County Fair for the 2nd straight year.  Hopefully we won't have a repeat of last year, when due to an unfortunate misunderstanding, the Mules were penned up in the livestock area for an hour and a half -- until our attorney could get there and straighten things out.  We made it to the stage just in time for our show.  There we found the 7 [lower case] mules who were supposed to have been in the livestock area all along.  The sound man was much relieved to see us, as he had gotten terribly frustrated trying to sound-check them.  But all's well that ends well -- we had a great show and a ton of fun with old friends and new.

We're playing from 7:30 to 8:30, so you can come for our on-stage swampy-tonk fireworks and then stick around for the literal up-in-the-sky fireworks. Those happen at 9:30.  That gives you an hour in between to stuff yourself with corn dogs and cotton candy and get in a roller coaster ride or two. On second thought, we recommend roller coaster before corn dogs.

We'll be playing on the Hennessy Funds Community Stage which is near the Ferris wheel, between the food court and the vendor booths.  It's got chairs and shade and room to dance, so you can rest your feet or give 'em a workout -- it's up to you!  So bring a busload of friends and come on out to the fair!  Look for us at the stage by the Ferris wheel.  [But if you don't find us there . . . try the livestock area.]

Blazers is a smokehouse!  No, Blazers is a beer garden!  No, Blazers is a great music venue!  Stop it, you three -- you're all right!  It's also downtown Novato's newest hot spot.  The Mules debuted there at the beginning of the month, gave it our coveted seal of approval and are heading back for round 2 this coming Friday.

Blazers management declared that the Mules were their favorite of all the bands that had played there so far.  Of course they had only been open a week and a half at that point, so we're not sure just how much of a compliment that really was.  But we plan to rock the house all over again and convince them that their first impression was spot on.

The big stage is outdoors, under a spreading redwood tree, on their spacious tented patio.  And it's right next to the smoker, so while you scoot your boots to the Mule music you can keep an eye on that brisket, pork, ribs or chicken you ordered.  And if you're thirsty -- and if you're on the dance floor for long you surely will be -- they offer a rotating selection of beers, ciders and California wines.

Blazers Smokehouse is at 7380 Redwood Blvd (actually on the frontage road on the east side of Redwood, just north of Grant) in downtown Novato.  So whether you're wanting a smokehouse or a beer garden, come on down to Blazers and join the Mules for a night of Swampy-Tonk fun!

Memorial Day is in the rearview mirror now, which means it's officially summer (yay!) -- even if the solstice and the weatherman still have some catching up to do.  This weekend the Festival of Art, Wine and Music returns to Novato and the Mules are happy to be returning to the festival.

It's all happening on Grant Avenue from 7th Street to Redwood. It starts at 11am, goes to 7pm on Saturday / 6pm on Sunday and admission is Free!
 
43% of the Mules (Sandy, Charlie & Dick) live in Novato, so playing the Festival is always their favorite home game.  For Sandy, it'll mark her 8th anniversary with the Mules -- she joined the band just in time for the 2015 Festival, which was just her 2nd-ever Miracle Mule show.  But even the other 57% of the Mules will be fired up for this one and ready to give it 110%. 

7 blocks of vendor booths will offer everything from tie dye to Aloha shirts, lawn sculptures, cacti, sun hats, purses, belts, earrings, toe rings, mood rings, and sure, probably nose rings.  Plus lotsa food booths, fun activities for the kiddies, and craft beers and premium wines for the grown-ups.

One thing you won't be able to buy there is dancing shoes.  So you'll want to be sure to bring your own.  Once we kick off our set you're definitely going to need them.  We want to fill Grant Ave. with dancers -- in the street, on the sidewalks and around the corner!  So do your part.

You'll find us at the far eastern end of the Festival, on the main stage at Redwood and Grant.  Y'all come and help us rock Novato!

They've only been open a week and a half, but the 5-star Yelp reviews are already pouring in.  Blazers is Novato's newest BBQ smokehouse and the Mules are happy to get our hoof in the door early and help them get their music program off the ground.  We'll be there twice in June (the 2nd & the 30th) and twice more later in the summer.

We haven't yet had a chance to sample the food ourselves, but folks are raving about the brisket ("just right"), the ribs ("first rate"), the house bourbon sauce ("not to be missed") and even the potato salad ("one of the best ever").

Blazers is at the old location for Jerry's Downtown BBQ, where we played a few times.  But rest assured that the new owners are two experienced restaurateurs who previously owned Novato's renowned Hilltop 1892 Restaurant for 10 years.  So that explains why the food is so good and should also mean that there will be no more snafus like the double-booking our last time at Jerry's.

Blazers Smokehouse is at 7380 Redwood Blvd (actually on the frontage road on the east side of Redwood, just north of Grant) in downtown Novato.  Come join us for some Swampy-Tonk fun and check out that 5-star cuisine for yourself!

The very next day after Big Rock the merry, merry mules of May will head north to Brewsters Beer Garden.  Little known fact, but beer gardens are the favorite pastures for mules to graze in, and Brewsters is one of our very favorite places in Petaluma.  [Helpful tip:  if you haven’t already planted your beer garden this year you’d better get your seeds in the ground this week.  That is if you want your crop to be ready in time for Oktoberfest.]
 
Brewsters is another super-fun, kid-friendly/dog-friendly spot.  If you work up an appetite they’ve got burgers, brisket, fish & chips, etc.  And as you’d expect from a beer garden, they have a truly extensive array of brews, plus wine & spirits.  The Mules promise to be rockin’ out, and you can rock right along with us.  Like Big Rock, there’s no actual dance floor, but you can find yourself plenty of room to shake a tail-feather.
 
We often get only one shot at playing Brewsters per year, so for all you Petalumans, this could be your only chance to see the Mules in your hometown in 2023.  Better plan now to strike while the iron is hot!

Brewsters is at 229 Water Street in downtown Petaluma. See y’all Sunday.  Be merry or be square-y! [This will be your final opportunity to be merry until December!]

It’s the merry, merry month of May and this Saturday the merriment is coming to Big Rock.  No, not the Big Rock Candy Mountain, but the Big Rock Deli, which is only the funnest, most rockin’ deli in the whole North Bay.

If you've been there, you know what we're talking about.  If you haven’t, you're in for a treat.  Big Rock is a wonderfully comfortable and laid-back place to spend an evening – kid-friendly, dog-friendly and just-plain-friendly.  Your host, Rene, serves up some fine BBQ, tacos, salads and a surprisingly wide variety of brews.  The Mules will be up on the big stage serving up the finest in Swampy-Tonk sounds.  And you (yes, you) – hopefully – will be right up front, dancing your socks off.

Note: This year the Mules are playing nearly every month at Big Rock – except for June for some reason (rumor is that 6 of the Mules refused to work on Fathers Day and Sandy didn’t want to do a solo act).  So our next Big Rock show, after this one, will be Sat., July 15.  Circle that date!

The Big Rock Deli is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael, and the day is this Saturday.  Hope to see all you big rockers there!

This Sunday the Mules are headed to Sebastopol (the one in Sonoma County, not Crimea).  We played there once before, 7 years ago, but it didn't really count.  It was our 2nd show of the day, we were running on fumes, and the audience barely outnumbered the band.  So Sunday will be a fresh start, our 2nd Sebastopol debut.  We promise this time we'll be rarin' to go, all fired up and ready to rock the house.

Sebastopol is a pretty special place.  The locals reportedly sum up the town this way: "same county; different planet."  Hey, here's an idea -- why not make a whole day of it?  Spend the afternoon at the Apple Blossom Festival, which is happening Sunday in Ives Park (7400 Willow St.).  And be sure to leave an hour to stroll along Florence Ave. to check out Patrick Amiot's wonderfully whimsical junk art sculptures that adorn front yards up and down the street.  

Then at 5:30 saunter over to the HopMonk for dinner (burgers, tacos, fish & chips, roast chicken, salmon risotto, clam fettuccini etc.), beverages (beer, wine, margaritas, etc.), dancing (boot scooting, Swampy Tonk style) & a general all-around good time! 

Oh, do be aware that Sebastopol has been declared a Nuclear Free Zone, so be sure  you leave all your nuclear weapons at home. 

HopMonk is at 230 Petaluma Ave in Sebastopol.  Y'all come join us Sunday and help us make a better 1st impression the 2nd time around!

The actual big rock that the Big Rock Deli is named for is a few miles further west on Lucas Valley.  It would be fun to play out there sometime, but our extension cords just aren't long enough.  So for now we'll stick to the Deli of the same name, which fortunately is plenty fun enough.

If you joined us there last year you know the Big Rock is a friendly, relaxed spot that's just perfect for sipping a brew, chowing down on some BBQ and kicking up your heels to some kick-ass swampy-tonk sounds.  & if you didn't, well come on out Sunday & find out for yourself.  Bring the kids; bring the pets (well, just the dogs -- the llamas and emus are best left at home).

Last year we played Big Rock the 3rd Saturday of just about every month.  We'll be there most months this year too, but nothing so predictable.  Here's the dates:  

• Sun Apr 16, 4-7pm

• Sat May 20, 5-8pm

• Sat Jul 15, 5-8pm

• Sun Aug 20, 4-7pm

• Sat Sep 16, 5-8pm

• Fri Oct 20, 5-8pm

The Big Rock Deli is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael.  See y'all on Sunday & let's rock the Rock!

We had a ton of fun last year at the Twin Oaks Roadhouse in Penngrove, and this Friday we're back, with a show in the Grand Ballroom.  So the Grand Canyon is truly grand.  The Grand Canal in Venice?  Oh yes, quite grand.  The Grand Ole Opry?  Goes without saying.  The Twin Oaks Grand Ballroom? Well, we'll let you be the judge.  But even if its grandeur is a mite overstated, it does have a really exceptional wooden dance floor and will have an awesome dance band (if we do say so ourselves).  And it'll definitely be warmer -- and drier -- than their patio.

Twin Oaks is a classic roadhouse, largely unchanged since it opened its doors in 1926. Well, except for the big-screen TVs.  If you're thirsty, the bartender can pour you an extensive variety of beers, wines, margaritas, etc.  If you work up an appetite on the aforementioned dance floor, the kitchen can rustle you up salads, burgers, fish tacos or paninis (and the fries here are especially yummy).

The Twin Oaks Roadhouse is at 5745 Old Redwood Highway in Penngrove, just north of Petaluma. So y'all come and let's have one Grand ole time together!

We had a fun 2023 kickoff in Alameda on Sunday, complete with a busload of fans from Marinwood.  It went so well, we're bringing the show back home to Marin this Friday (for all of you who missed the bus).  We'll be at Ounces Outdoors in Northgate.  As its name suggests, it is an outdoor venue, but the weatherman promises the current atmospheric rivers will have moved on by Friday.  So let's party while we have the chance -- we could all stand a break from ark building! 

We have a couple brand new tunes to try out for you, and some old favorites that you haven't heard us play in a while -- and they're all great dance tunes!  Ounces Outdoors doesn't have an actual dance floor, but when we played there last October a small gaggle of dancers showed up and it didn't slow any of them down. So dust off those dancin' shoes and plan to give 'em a workout.

Ounces Outdoors partners with smaller local breweries to offer a great variety of beers & ciders on tap.  And if you work up an appetite on the non-dance-floor they' can whip you up a savory pie, a grilled sandwich or warm cookies.  Or one of each!

Ounces Outdoors is at 5800 Northgate Drive in San Rafael, right next to Kohl's.  So y'all come and let's party while the weatherman gives us the chance!

The bears have been awake for weeks now.  The raccoons even longer.  The Mules, on the other hand, will hibernate through half of spring if you let them.  But our alarm has finally gone off, we’re on our second trough of coffee, and this coming Sunday we’ll be venturing out of the barn, all ready to rock, for our first public show of 2023.  And the good news is that we hibernated with earphones on, so we actually managed to learn a few great new tunes in our sleep.

First stop on the 2023 tour is the Almanac Beer Company in Alameda.  We played there last year, had a great time and made some good friends who followed us faithfully ever since.  We heard a rumor that there is a literal busload of fans coming from Marin this Sunday to help kick off our 2023 season.  

The Almanac Beer Company is at 651 West Tower Avenue in Alameda.  So hop on the bus or find your own way there and help us get our 2023 off and running with a bang!

Fundraiser for Marin Democrats. The Marin Democratic Party is pleased to invite you to our Ragin’ Cajun In Person Mardi Gras event, February 18th from 5:30-7:30 PM in San Rafael. We will once again enjoy the foot stomping music of Miracle Mule–live, onstage. Our keynote speaker is Congressman Jared Huffman who will present his annual “Tales of the City-DC.” For tickets or sponsorship, click here.

The Mules have played at all 3 of the previous Wine Country Carnivals, but #4 has been a long time a-comin'.  It's been rescheduled more times than we can count (of course, given the lack of fingers & toes, mules can only count to 4).  But it's finally happening this coming Saturday at the Jacuzzi Family Vineyards -- rain or shine (not that there's ever much shining going on after 6pm since Daylight Savings went away).

You will need advance tickets, but in addition to dancing to your favorite band they also include a splendid meal created by chef Munther Massarweh of Scrumptious Occasions.  And more importantly, it's all for a great cause -- the event is a fund-raiser for United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay.  The event supports UCP recreational programs, which allow children and adults with disabilities to experience new opportunities, build self-esteem, and further their independence.  The Mules are very happy to be a part of this event once again and to support this very worthwhile cause.

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards are at 24724 Arnold Drive in Sonoma.  Advance tickets are available here.  This is our last show on the calendar for 2022, so we hope we'll see you there!

According to ancient legend, it is in late afternoon on the day before Halloween, as the pale sunlight begins to fail, that the villagers will begin to hear music -- eerie pedal steel, shrieking guitar, a bone-rattling washboard.  The village folk will begin to gather, cowering together in their public houses to await the dreaded arrival they all fear is nigh.  Then they hear it -- at first distant, then closer, then terrifyingly near -- the unmistakable, terrible and blood-curdling bray of . . . the Ware-Mules!  The gypsy soothsayers have consulted their tea leaves and Tarot decks.  All signs foretell that this year the horrid beasts' appearance will occur in the village of Novato at the inn that bears the sign of "Rickey's."  Do not be seduced by the sensuous swampy tonk sounds, do not be lured into wild dances in the shadowed corners of the crowded inn, for the Ware-Mule's magic is powerful.  Once you are under the spell of their hypnotic voices and throbbing rhythms you will never again be free from . . .  the Curse of the Ware-Mules!

Rickey's is at 250 Entrada Drive in Novato.  Come all -- if ye dare!