The Mules kick off our 17th year
Friday the 17th at Big Rock!

Geologists recently determined that Big Rock (from which the Deli gets its name) actually originated in Little Rock, Arkansas.  It gained mass as it moved westward, ultimately coming to rest in its present location on Lucas Valley Road.  How it crossed the Rocky Mountains was a mystery until historians discovered the journal of muleskinner Silas Gallstone, who recounts hauling a "middling-size rock" across the Rockies near Boulder, Colorado via mule train. The still-growing rock then tumbled down the western slope, heading, when he lost sight of it, in the general direction of Marin County.  This may help explain the Mules' affinity for Big Rock and our feeling of coming home whenever we play there.

We would like to thank all y'all who came out to Rancho Nicasio last Friday to help us commemorate our 16th anniversary.  It was a fun-tastic evening and a fitting cele-bray-tion for the end of our 16th year.  But Mules are perpetually forward-looking critters, so this Friday at Big Rock we will be officially kicking off our 17th year.  

Our two new tunes -- Geoff's hypnotically rockin' "The Lantern" and Dick's Mardi Gras anthem "Living it Up Down in New Orleans" -- were enthusiastically received at Rancho, so they will definitely be included in our Big Rock swampy-tonk repertoire.  They should also be showing up on Spotify, Apple Music etc. any day now. Keep an eye out for 'em!

The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are cooling off, but Big Rock has lights and heaters, so it's still the place to head just as soon as the second hand on your workplace clock hits closing time on Friday.

Even on a cool evening, dancing to the Mules can work up a serious thirst and a hearty appetite.  So your host, Rene, will have ready & waiting an impressive selection of cold brews and a menu that starts with barbequed ribs and continues with fish tacos and plenty of other mouth-watering choices.

The Big Rock Deli is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road.  This may be the kickoff to our 17th year, but at least as of right now it is the last show on our 2025 calendar.  It could be many cold months until you get your next chance to mule-out with the Mules.  So forget the Mariners vs. the Blue Jays and the Dodgers vs. whoever -- the Mules at Big Rock is the only game in town.  And if you need one more reason to join us at Big Rock on Friday -- you can come help us sing Happy Birthday to Brian! Mule on!

It's hard to believe, but Miracle Mule will be turning 16 this month (it seems like only yesterday that you were hearing the patter of little hooves).  Of course turning 16 means we’re old enough to get our learner’s permit, so you might want to avoid Marin roadways for the next few months till we get a thumbs-up from the DMV.

But turning 16 also means big doings at Rancho Nicasio this Friday.  We don't turn 16 every day, so we've got a big celebration planned, and you need to be part of it!  And to make the night extra-special, we'll be releasing our brand new single, Geoff's latest song, "The Lantern."  It's a hypnotic song about a bar (big surprise) in New Orleans, and it's guaranteed to get you movin' and groovin'.  Oh, hey -- some of you may remember the old days, when singles were actual 2-sided disks, which meant they actually came with two songs.  Well, you never know, we might just be crazy enough to release a second Mule single on Friday.  Would that make it a double-single-release party?  

Surely that should be enough for one night, don't you think?  But wait -- there's more!  In addition to the anniversary party and single (or double-single) release party and two hours of premium swampy-tonk music, you will also get . . . free line dance lessons!  At a recent Mules show in El Dorado Hills, Sandy noticed audience members awkwardly attempting to line dance, and valiantly did her best to get them moving in a semi-synchronous direction.  Now that may have been good enough for El Dorado Hills, but certainly not for Rancho Nicasio.  No, for Rancho we will be bringing in actual professional line dance instructors who know just how to get your two left feet stepping around the dance floor like ballroom champions.  And still more -- Geoff's sons Kal and Kenny will be performing two songs with the band and giving you a taste of Miracle Mule NextGen.  Yes, friends, for this week only, you get all of the above for the low low ticket price of only $20.

We don't care whether you come to Rancho to celebrate our anniversary or to celebrate the release of our new single(s?) or, for that matter, if you come to celebrate National Hug-a-Drummer Day (yes, that's also this Friday -- look it up!).  The important thing is that you're there and ready to celebrate something.  So take a minute and order your tickets now.  You'll be glad you did.

Rancho Nicasio is at 1 Old Rancheria Road in Nicasio.  This could end up being the only 16th anniversary we ever have, so don't even think of missing it!  Mule on!

Fund raiser for The Farm to Fight Hunger. Farm to Fight Hunger is a non-profit organization that grows, harvests and delivers fresh nutritious produce, free of charge, to those in Sonoma County in need of healthy food. Eggs layed by happy pastured hens are also donated to local food banks. They farm in an earth-friendly sustainable manner and work to improve the soil health, therefore improving the nutritional content of the food they grow, increasing the amount of carbon the soil can hold and reducing greenhouse gases. Grow - Gather - Give.

They say that Labor Day marks the end of summer.  Sorry, but summer is our favorite time of year and we're just not done with this one yet -- there are still waves to be surfed and trails to be hiked and hammocks to be lounged in -- not to mention lots more swampy-tonkin' to do!

We've been playing at Big Rock since it was a mere pebble, so it's like home to us.  We're looking forward to "coming home" this Saturday for an evening of rockin' music and summertime fun.  We've got a couple new tunes we may even be ready to try out on you.  We're counting on you to be part of the fun -- c'mon now, y'all are gonna have some dancing to do!

Make it a family outing -- bring grandma and the kids (and don't forget Fido).  When all of you work up an appetite, Big Rock has mouthwatering barbequed ribs, tacos and plenty more to choose from.  And you'll want to wash it down with their wide selection of ice cold beers (including root beer for the younguns).

Big Rock is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael.  We'll be back there again on Friday, October 17.  OK, maybe by then we'll be ready to carve pumpkins and stack firewood, but for now, let's keep driving with the top down and enjoying summer.  Mule on!

Last year we had a great time at an event at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin.  They didn't even try to convert us -- although we're afraid that our songs about drinking and general moral laxity may have corrupted at least a few of them.  Now, inexplicably, they have invited us to launch their new Joy and Justice concert series.  We'll be sharing the evening with DJ Maad Hatter, so if you're looking to dance, there should be pretty much continuous music. 

Of course, dancing works up an appetite, so chef Alexis Haynes and her Fully’z VeSoul Café food truck will be on hand serving up some mouth-watering Louisiana-inspired vittles.  And of course, man – and woman and mule – do not live by vittles alone, so the church will be turning water into wine — and beer — for those who thirst after more than righteousness.

Doors open at 6:00; the Mules kick things into high gear around 7:15.  Tickets are $18 if purchased in advance, or $20 at the door.  Proceeds go to support the Marin County Cooperation Team, which empowers Marin’s historically underserved communities.

This is our 3rd straight year at this fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society.  If we can be serious for a moment, one of our bandmates is a cancer survivor, so this is an event that is especially near and dear to our hearts.  It's also fun -- and free!  They've got food, crafters, silent auctions, games, prizes, contests, activities, speakers, massage tent, etc. The Relay for Life is at Olive School, 620 Olive Ave. in Novato.  We'd love to see you there, but if you can't make it, please consider making a donation.

Other bands may talk the talk, but Miracle Mule rocks The Rock!  And we'll be doing just that this coming Friday evening. 

We know you'll be watching the office clock as Friday afternoon crawls by and the weekend feels like it'll never get here.  And when closing time finally does come, sure, you could head straight home, but you know what's waiting there:  a lawn that needs mowing, that broken gate that you were supposed to fix last weekend, that pile of laundry that makes it impossible to walk on the bedroom floor. 

Here's a much better idea -- head instead to the Big Rock Deli, where you'll find beer that needs drinking, barbequed ribs and fish tacos that need eating, friendly folks who need hanging out with and 3 hours of rockin' swampy-tonk music that just begs to be danced to.

OK, maybe you'll want to make a quick stop at the house to pick up the spouse, the kids, the dog and your dancing shoes -- but no more than 5 minutes.  Don't let yourself even make eye-contact with the lawnmower.
 
Big Rock is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael.  It's your weekend, so y'all come on down and we'll help you kick it off on the right hoof. 

This Friday the Mules are set to stampede into Sausalito and give those Jazz & Blues fans a taste of Swampy-Tonk music they won't soon forget.  We're told to expect a large and "high energy crowd that loves to dance and have fun."  Sounds like our kind of folks.  Sure it's Friday the 13th, but we're not worried -- Mules are too stubborn to be superstitious.

This is a free concert -- our thanks to the Sausalito Cruising Club for sponsoring it.  They will have food for sale as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (though why anyone would want to drink a non-alcoholic beverage we have no idea).  Dogs are welcome (must be on leash) as well as children (leashes optional).  For further details on parking, table rental, lawn seating (low beach chairs only!), etc. Click here.

Jazz & Blues by the Bay concerts are in Gabrielson Park at Anchor St. & Humbolt Ave. in Sausalito.  Y'all come help us show these Sausalito jazz & blues fans what Swampy-Tonkin' is all about.  This is one Friday the 13th that's going to be everyone's lucky day!

To hire Miracle Mule for your backyard barbecue, corporate function or your organization’s event, contact DickBay1@gmail.com.

The 1st Saturday in June we'll be back at our "home base," that friendly oasis on the road to the wilds of west Marin.  Join us for an evening of 99.9% pure Mule music, mouth-watering BBQ and ice cold beer.  I don't know about you, but that sure sounds like the perfect combination to us.

If there's one thing mules like, it's a good beer garden (we'd grow one of our own but we can never find the seeds).  And there's one just up the road that just may be the best in downtown Petaluma.  We don't make it up to Sonoma County nearly often enough, but hey look, Sonoma-ites, we're heading your way!  

We always have a great time at Brewsters. It’s a fun family-friendly open air restaurant and watering hole — children and dogs are welcome, assuming of course that they remember to bring their parents along.  Brewsters describes their cuisine as "southern BBQ meets California produce with a refined touch of explosive flavors."  But fear not, if things get too explosive, they also have 30 local craft beers on tap -- plus spirits and wine -- to help put out the fire.

Brewsters also has a built-in sound system and plenty of room for dancing, if you're so inclined.  And with the Mules there cranking out 3 hours of rompin' stompin' Swampy Tonk music, there's just no way you won't feel so inclined.

Brewsters is at 229 Water Street in Petaluma.  This could very well be our only Sonoma County show this year, so if you live up that way be sure to circle the date on your calendar and plan to join us.  And if you live in Marin, hey, it's just barely past the county line, so you've got no excuse not to join us too!

We're gonna rock around the Rock tonight
We're gonna rock, rock, rock till broad daylight
We're gonna rock, gonna rock around Big Rock tonight!
 
OK, maybe not till broad daylight -- unfortunately the neighborhood does have a noise ordinance -- but we will be back at Big Rock on Friday and we're definitely gonna rock, rock, rock.  So definitely you're going to want to come out and, I don't know, dance, dance, dance? 

Big Rock is always a good time -- for us and for all y'all.  It's a fun, friendly, relaxed neighborhood hangout.  Feel free to bring your kids or your pets -- unless you have pet snakes (mules don't like snakes).  Your host, Renee, will be cooking up heaps of barbequed ribs, chicken and brisket, burritos and fish tacos, and he's got an impressive variety of brews all chilled and waiting for you.  
 
Why wait till Saturday to start your weekend?  The good weather is here, so why not come straight from the office or the shop or wherever they keep you cooped up all week?  
 
Big Rock is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael.  Everyone flock to Big Rock and we'll rock, rock, rock till they make us stop!

It's been exactly 135 days since the last Miracle Mule show.  You don't need to consult the FDA guidelines on Swampy-Tonk frequency to know that that is just waaay too long.  Fortunately, your interminably grim Mule-less winter is about to be over -- with a bang!  This Saturday the Mules will kick off their 16th year right back where we celebrated our 15th anniversary just a few months ago.  Rancho Nicasio is one of our very favorite venues -- a roomy stage, great sound system and awesome food -- and this will be our 11th appearance there.
 
The Mules are fired up and champing at the bit.  We've been practicing some new songs and some songs so old they'll seem new -- to us and to you.  We're raring to go, so you'll definitely want to be there when we rock the house, just like the old days, way back in 2024.
 
In our "save the date" newsletter we promised "no gimmicks this time -- no line dance teachers, no special guest stars, no fireworks, no animal acts."  We didn't exactly lie, but due to popular demand we did change our minds and decide to bring back [sorry, animal act fans] the Cowtown Cowgirls to provide free line dance lessons between our sets.  So for sure you're gonna wanna de-cobweb your dancing shoes cuz by the time the Cowgirls are done with you, your two left feet will know what they're doing and won't want to leave the dancefloor.

Tickets 

OK, you've had a month or so to procrastinate, but that's all over now.  It's time to get serious and buy tickets today! At the same time you'll also want to reserve your table for dinner and the show.  Rancho does feature some seriously fine dining -- just take a peek at their scrumptious dinner show menu! [The Mules give it a 5 carrot rating!]

Rancho Nicasio is at 1 Old Rancheria Road in Nicasio.  Y'all come out and help us celebrate the the kickoff to our 16th year!  This could be the start of something big!

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*Note time change since our last newsletter: Doors open at 6pm. Dinner reservations start at 6pm. Music starts at 7:30pm. 

t’s just not like the Mules to disappear in late summer / early fall.  But sure enough, it’s been a month and a half since the last confirmed Mule-sighting in Marin.  Oh, there have been rumors.  There was something about a golf course in Santa Rosa, but that just turned out to be 2 escaped donkeys found grazing near the 14th tee.  Then there were reports that the Mules had been spotted playing for line dancers at a senior center in Brentwood, but that seems impossible to verify. 
 
The current rumor is that the Mules will be back at the Big Rock Deli this Friday, Oct 11, from 5 to 8pm.  We’re taking this one seriously.  Big Rock’s website appears to corroborate it (though that website also still says “Happy New Year,” so that doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence in its reliability).  But there are signs that the Mules have been practicing, so they could, indeed, be ready to rev up the swampy-tonkin’, kick it back into high gear and rock the house again. 
 
As further evidence, Big Rock employees have been seen unloading trucks, appearing to lay in provisions, as if they were expecting a large crowd.  It was hard to tell, but through our binoculars it appeared to include all the fixings for barbequed ribs, chicken and brisket, plus burritos and fish tacos, not to mention cases of every beer you could think of. 
 
We’re not ones to spread rumors -- so we’ll leave it to you to tell all your friends, neighbors, family members and casual acquaintances. 
 
Big Rock is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael.  You’re definitely going to want to be there Friday night to see if the rumors are true and hopefully catch the Mules before they disappear again.  See y’all there – let’s party till the cows come home!

When the Mules were starting out 15 years ago, friends and family members organized a pool for how long the band would last.  Well, let's just say that no one picked 15 years.  Officially, the 15th anniversary isn't until October, but who can wait that long?  So the little band that defied all expectations will be celebrating a month and a half early -- August 24 at Rancho Nicasio -- and we'd love for you to help us celebrate.

The Mules will be all fired up and ready to rock the house with their hoof-stompin' beat and their signature swampy-tonk sound.  The Cowtown Cowgirls will be on hand to provide free line dance lessons, so you'll want to polish up yer dancin' shoes and be all ready to hit the dancefloor.  Plus bandleader Geoff Mack's sons Kenny & Kal and his nephew Conor will be sitting in on a few tunes to give you a sneak peek at the next generation of Mules.  It promises to be a night to remember!

Hopefully you're already convinced that this is one show you can't miss.  So say "no" to procrastination and order your tickets today! At the same time you'll also want to reserve your table for dinner and the show.  Rancho does feature some seriously fine dining -- just take a gander at their yummy dinner show menu!

You only turn 15 once, so y'all come and help us celebrate!  Next year we'll be old enough to get our learner's permit, so who knows where we'll be then. 

NOTE: Dinner reservations start at 6pm. Music starts at 8pm.  Rancho Nicasio is at 1 Old Rancheria Road in Nicasio. 

Miracle Mule is lucky to have two resident songwriters:  guitar player Geoff Mack (Swampy Tonkin', Bourbon Street...) and keyboardist Dick Bay (Romp in the Swamp, The 12 Bar Blues...).  Their songs have been featured on the Mules' albums and scattered here & there in their live shows, but they have never done a show that exclusively showcased their original songs.  Until Now.

They will finally be doing just that -- playing a solid hour of their original songs -- this coming Friday at the Point Richmond Summer Music Festival.  

Next month's edition of the Point Richmond Music Fest will feature a band called Van Goat.  We are still incredulous that the festival organizers passed up a golden opportunity to book the Mules and the Goats on the same night.  Instead, this Friday we will be opening for Lorin Rowan, who has no known connection to barnyard animals.  He is, nevertheless, an accomplished songwriter and recording artist.  He's shared the stage with the likes of Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard & Levon Helm.  His current band sounds a bit like The Eagles to this Mule's ears. So he'll definitely be worth sticking around for.

This fest is at the corner of Washington Ave & Park Place in Point Richmond.  It would be great to see some familiar Mule fans in the crowd.  Y'all come!

The Mules are very happy to once again be a part of the Relay for Life, a fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society in Novato.  We provided the music for last year's event, had a lot of fun and helped raise over $67,000 to bring hope to cancer patients, survivors and caretakers all around the Bay Area.  Please join us at the Olive School, 620 Olive Ave. in Novato and help support this very worthwhile cause.

The Rock of Gibraltar, Plymouth Rock, Chimney Rock, Elephant Rock, the Big Rock Deli -- all iconic natural wonders, but only one of them will feature a rockin' Miracle Mule performance this Friday evening.

You clock out of work after a long tough week and what better way to kick off your weekend than to head over to Big Rock for some beer, barbeque and 3 hours of Swampy-Tonk fun!

The Big Rock is the Mules' official favorite San Rafael venue, an oasis of friendly good vibes, yummy food and refreshing beverages.  Kids, dogs and dancing are always welcome, and so are you!

The Big Rock Deli is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael.   Y'all come and help us celebrate . . . oh, we'll think of something!

When Miracle Mule was born 15 years ago, 5 of the 7 Mules (that's over 70% of the band!) lived in Marinwood.  Geoff and Brian, the only 2 original Mules remaining, still live there and the band still considers Marinwood its home base.  Marinwood's Music in the Park concert series has been around nearly as long as the Mules.  And for most of that time the Mules have been  vying for a chance to play in that festival, but it never happened.  Until now!  Yes, that is all changing, as the Mules will be headlining this Friday night's Music in the Park concert!

An interesting and hard-to-describe band called Ginger Beat will open the show at 6 pm.  They characterize their sound as ranging from blues to bluegrass, salsa to rock-and-roll, with a driving groove.  No, it's not swampy-tonk -- and they don't even wear cowboy hats -- but it sounds fun.

The Mules will take over around 7 and will go full-tilt till 8 -- or until they make us stop (whichever comes 2nd).  Finally the home-team Mules will get a chance to show Marinwood what swampy-tonkin' is all about.  So c'mon out and be a part of the historic occasion.  Be sure to bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs -- along with your dancing shoes of course.  Marinwood Market will be offering some reportedly delicious barbeque, and there will be a bar for the adults (actual maturity not required).

Marinwood Park is adjacent to the Marinwood Community Center, which is at 775 Miller Creek Road in San Rafael.  So y'all come & help us make our years-in-the-making Music in the Park debut a real blast!

It's about time these Mules found religion, and to the great relief of the Marin Temperance Society, they are finally all heading to church.  That would be the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in San Rafael this Saturday evening.  Since this is such an utterly unprecedented occasion, the public is invited to attend and bear witness.  Of course it remains to be seen if the Unitarians will succeed in converting the Mules or if the Mules songs about drinking and moral turpitude will corrupt the Unitarians first.

As if an evening of scandalous swampy-tonk music isn't enough, this show will also include line dancing lessons led by the Cowtown Cowgirls.  So you'll want to bring your dancing shoes and do a quick review of right-vs.-left before you come.

The occasion is the after-party for the congregation's annual retreat, but they are willing to let you skip the whole retreat and just show up for the party.  They suggest a $10 donation and request that you bring a pot-luck dish to contribute to the dinner.  This is an alcohol-free event (no, sorry, that does not mean that alcohol will be free).

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin is at the top of the hill at 240 Channing Way in San Rafael.  Join the Mules, the Cowtown Cowgirls and the Unitarians for an evening of fun, music, dancing, dinner -- and the struggle between good and evil!

Spring is in full swing and the signs are everywhere.  The sunshine is back, the robins are back chirping in the treetops, the bees are back buzzing in the crocuses, and . . . the Mules are back at Big Rock!  No more will you need to plod through your grim wintry existence without a single note of swampy-tonk to lift your spirits.  Remember the fun we all had together at Big Rock the last two summers?  Well, it's time to do it all over again!

Big Rock is that kid-friendly, dog-friendly, fun-friendly oasis on the road to west Marin.  We're so happy to be back we promise to be fired up and ready to rock out on all your favorite Mule-ish tunes.  Come on out and see if you can still pull off your favorite dance moves.  Big Rock will have plenty of scrumptious barbeque, Mexican specialties and cold brews on hand to handle any hunger and/or thirst that those dance moves might induce.

The Big Rock Deli is at 1500 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael.  Join the Mules -- and the birds, bees & sunshine -- for an afternoon of spring-tacular swampy-tonk fun!

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!