The Southern rockers so far are scheduled to play nine February gigs, focusing on the Midwest and Northeast. The shows will follow a two-night, Dec. 27-28 stand in Baltimore, as well as Dec. 30 and 31 gigs at New York's Beacon Theater.

The bill for the Dec. 30 show will also include The James "Blood" Ulmer Trio with Jamaaladeen Tacuma and G. Calvin Weston. On New Year's Eve, Gov't Mule will play three sets.

Gov't Mule's latest release is September's "Deja Voodoo," the band's first studio album on which core members Haynes and drummer Matt Abts are backed by keyboardist Danny Louis and bassist Andy Hess.

"It sounds like Gov't Mule, but it doesn't sound like anything we've already done," Haynes said of the new album in a statement on the band's website. "It has the same muscle and the same influences and character. But the fact is that it's a new band interpreting, and I'm writing songs for the sound of the new band."

The album is Gov't Mule's first since its "Deep End" series, which featured guest appearances from a long list of bassists who filled in after founding bassist Allen Woody died in August of 2000.