Warren Haynes Reflects On Hurricane Damage In His Homeland And Raises Relief Aid With Soulshine Benefit

Warren Haynes has—characteristically—a lot on his plate these days, including the release of his new solo album this week Million Voices Whisper. But his eyes are also firmly on his home state of North Carolina and his hometown of Asheville, which was devastated by Hurricane Helene last month and is still in the midst of rebuilding and recovery.

says Haynes Bulletin board that his family is safe and largely back in Asheville, although his brother's record store, like so many businesses, suffered debilitating damage. He won't be able to host his annual Christmas Jam concert there this year, but he will be part of Soulshine, which takes place on November 24 at New York's Madison Square Garden. Haynes' band will be joined by Dave Matthews Band, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and Goose, as well as guests including Phish's Trey Anastasio, Mavis Staples, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Robert Randolph, Trombone Shorty, Joe Russo and more. . tickets go on sale Friday (1 November) with a pre-sale for Haynes' fan club on Thursday (31 October). Proceeds will go to relief efforts in both North Carolina and Florida, which was subsequently hit by Hurricane Milton.

“The object now is to try to raise as much money as possible,” says Haynes. “It was terrible to see. I was on tour watching CNN and saw them plan the River Arts District, where my brother's store is. they reached the next building and it was under water. I was like, “Sh-t my brother's store is right over there,” but at the time I couldn't contact anyone and they couldn't reach me. But I was lucky enough to be able to talk to them at first and they assured me that everyone was fine. After that it was really frustrating not knowing and watching the news and hoping. Now I just want to do what I can to help everyone.”

Haynes will bring new music to Soulshine. Million Voices Whisper is the guitarist's first solo outing since 2015 Ash & Dust (collaboration with Railroad Earth) and sports 11 tracks, with four more songs on the deluxe edition. Produced by Haynes, it features a reunion with the Allman Brothers Band's Derek Trucks on four tracks, as well as Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson on “Day of Reckoning” — which includes a second version on the deluxe edition that opens with trio harmonizing on “Find the Cost of Freedom” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He also wrote “Smooth Sailing” with Stax legend Booker T. Jones.

The set also marks the recording debut of the latest Warren Haynes Band lineup, which includes John Medeski on keyboards, bassist Kevin Scott of Haynes' Gov't Mule, and Dirty Dozen Brass Band drummer Terrence Higgins.

“At the beginning of the process all the songs had a Muscle Shoals feel,” recalls Haynes, referring to the legendary FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound studios in Alabama, where dozens of soul and rock classics were recorded. “So it started out being that kind of record, but then as I kept writing, they all kind of drifted off in their own directions, but they seemed to stick together. Once I have a group of songs that seem to work together, that usually tells me it's time to make a record.”

Million Voices WhisperHis starting point, however, was “Real Real Love,” a song Haynes began writing with Gregg Allman before his death in 2017. “I had a copy of his verse, which was unfinished, so I finished the lyric and knowing there was no music or demo or recording,” says Haynes. “So I wrote music for it, but I wrote it in a way that would reflect as much (Allman) would have written it as I could.” Once that was done, Haynes approached Trucks about bringing the Allman Brothers flavor to the recording. This led to a writing session at Trucks' farm near Macon, Ga., which yielded the Million Voices Whisper tracks “These Changes,” “Hall of Future Saints” and “Back Where I Started,” all featuring Trucks.

“It's been great, the first time the two of us have collaborated in the studio like this in a long time,” says Haynes, adding that we may be hearing more from the duo in the future – including, of course, the Soulshine benefit. “There's definitely talk about it. We'll see where it all goes. I think I can speak for both of us when I say that we really enjoy it when it happens, and writing for those three days and then being in the studio together for my record was a blast. There's just something unusual about the way the two of us work together. It's very easy.”

The Haynes-Trucks tandem, meanwhile, is also represented on the new release of the Allman Brothers' final concert from October 28, 2014 at New York's Beacon Theatre. “It was a fantastic show,” Haynes says of the epic 29-song performance. “I have amazing memories of everyone really rising to the occasion and going out with a bang. And the new mix sounds really great. I'm glad people are hearing it.”

Haynes wants to play some shows with his band in supportt Million Voices Whisper, including more Dream and Songs Symphonic Experience dates with orchestras — and the release of a Don Was-produced album recorded with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra before the pandemic. For now, though, Haynes has a solo show in store for Nov. 2 at Looney Tunes in West Babylon, New York, with his band and Gov't Mule playing January's Island Exodus 15 festival in Jamaica.
He's also leaning towards a big 2025 with Gov't Mule, which will mark the 30th anniversary of the group's debut album. The celebration, he says, will include “a bunch of cool, special shows” as well as releasing unheard material from the band's archives.

However, rather than feeling drawn to these disparate concerns, Haynes feels inspired. “I see it as an opportunity to not stand still,” he explains. “Doing all these different things keeps me motivated and inspired. I feel like if I only did one thing all the time I would get sick of it and burn out a lot easier. That way, with my solos, the Mule, whatever, it keeps me really excited and really engaged.”