Mule

I woke up to a text message with a picture of a bandaged index finger. I don’t remember what the words in the text were exactly but what I said out loud was “oh shit”.

Dave had sent me a picture of the tattoo he had just gotten - the Mule logo on his hand. I don’t have any tattoos, my inclination to constantly reevaluate myself makes the commitment difficult for me, and the permanence of it was shocking. Dave was not reevaluating the success of Mule and of our friendship. We had a met on Instagram, he had bought Mule #42 and a few more Mules, and was my first experience of a musician getting an instrument and witnessing the inspiration found in it.

“This might sound a little out there,” director James Mann said,” ..but it kind of feels like you two are each others’ spirit animals.” James was doing a short film for LL Bean and had flown Dave over from the UK for it. We were drinking beer together at a small local bar before a gig we set up for the video. We had met for the first time a few days prior when we started filming. I was at the shop trying to not look nervous on camera and Dave was waiting somewhere in Saginaw so that our meeting in person on camera could be as authentic as meeting a person on camera could be. Dave had wandered over to a sporting goods store nearby and was texting me pictures of guns. “They are just like... on shelves. Everywhere.”

The next time Dave and I hung out involved me flying to the UK, Netflix, Jason Momoa, Lindisfarne castle. A story for another time.

After that trip Dave, a true Scotsman, and I (a wannabe Scotsman) designed the Mule Clan Tartan. Officially registered it. Look it up.

Many have taught me how to second guess myself - and there’s benefit to that - but few have assumed complete confidence in me. Dave took #42 and started beating down every door he could find with it, he piled up the wreckage, set it on fire and found some more havoc to create. It’s been endlessly motivating to me. One of the best.

Dave is on a rough road health-wise and needs your prayers, your scotch, your bonfires, and your encouragement. Give the guy some love, he deserves all of it. @davidandthedevil

—Matt