Spafford Performs Without Andrew ‘Red’ Johnson After Positive COVID-19 Test

Spafford will conclude their fall tour sans keyboardist Andrew “Red” Johnson, who left the run after testing positive for COVID-19. The band played as a trio for portions of Thursday’s concert at The Miramar Theatre in Milwaukee and teamed with Eggy keyboardist Dani Battat for one song in last night’s first set and three songs in the second set.

The news of Johnson’s positive test was announced by Spafford hours before last night’s show. The Arizona-based band intends to finish the tour without Johnson which includes a second concert in Milwaukee tonight and a performance at Chicago’s Park West tomorrow. Eggy continues on as support.

Spafford guitarist Brian Moss, bassist Jordan Fairless and drummer Nick Tkachyk began last night’s show with “Dirtbath” and “Levilan Shores.” The latter was a tour debut. Battat emerged to augment the trio for “Leave The Light On” to close the three-song set.

Moss, Fairless and Tkachyk played the “Double Time” that opened Thursday’s second set as a three-piece. Dani Battat then returned for a seamless, set-closing run featuring “All My Friends,” “Bee Jam” and “Mind’s Unchained.” The Spafford Trio capped an all-original, improv-heavy night with a “Parody” encore. Spafford and Eggy perform again in Milwaukee tonight.

Watch fan-shot video footage featuring a portion of last night’s “Bee Jam” captured by Live For Live Music’s Michael Broerman below:

Setlist (via Spafford Facebook)

Set One: Dirtbath%, Levilan Shores%, Leave the Light On$

Set Two: Double Time%, All My Friends$ > Bee Jam$ > Minds Unchained$

Encore: Parody%

• % – Spafford Trio
• $ – w/ Dani Battat on keys