Gov't Mule will hammer the eastern U.S. with their experimental blues-rock when they kick off a 20-date tour March 2 in Hartford, Conn.

The trio, who released Life Before Insanity on Tuesday, will venture as far west as Austin, Texas, where they will perform at the South by Southwest music conference March 17.

Singer/guitarist Warren Haynes and bassist Allen Woody were former

members of the Allman Brothers Band. They met drummer Mark Abts after a 1994 performance in Los Angeles and decided to form their own band shortly afterward.

Life Before Insanity is the most focused of their three studio albums, with fewer of the meandering jams that characterized earlier songs. Moving from solemn, acoustic tracks such as "In My Life" to the cathartic title track (RealAudio excerpt), the album tells the story of a man's descent into madness.

Guitarist Haynes, named Best Slide Guitarist by Guitar magazine in 1995 and 1996, shows off his talents on "Tastes Like Wine" (RealAudio excerpt), a rending, mostly instrumental anthem.

Roots-rocker Ben Harper will join Gov't Mule on March 7–8 at Irving Plaza in New York City.

Gov't Mule tour dates:

March 2; Hartford, Conn.; Webster Theatre

March 3; Boston, Mass.; Avalon Ballroom

March 4; Burlington, Vt.; Magic Hat Mardi Gras

March 5; Killington, Vt.; Pickle Barrel

March 7–8; New York, N.Y.; Irving Plaza

March 9; Philadelphia, Pa.; Theatre of Living Arts

March 10; Washington, D.C.; 9:30 Club

March 11; Towson, Md.; Recher Theater

March 12; Charleston, W.V.; Mountain Stage

March 14; Winston-Salem, N.C.; Ziggy's

March 15; Charlotte, N.C.; Tremont Music Hall

March 17; Austin, Texas; Scholtz's

March 20; Charleston, S.C.; Music Farm

March 21; Greenville, S.C.; Peace Center

March 23; Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; House of Blues

March 24; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Chili Pepper

March 26; Tallahassee, Fla.; Potbellies'

March 28; Knoxville, Tenn.; Barley & Hopps

March 29; Nashville, Tenn.; 328 Performance