Spafford Performs Socially Distant Drive-In Concert In Arizona

Spafford delivered their first live concert with fans in attendance since the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday. The Arizona-based four-piece performed two all-original sets at the Digital Drive-In in Mesa, Arizona.

After thanking the socially distanced crowd and those streaming at home, Spafford kicked off the show with the opening synthesizer strains of “The Remedy,” a fitting song to launch their first show since the coronavirus pandemic. The band last played the tune on March 6 in Frisco, Colorado at one of their last shows before lockdowns went into place. After running through a couple verses and choruses, keyboardist Andrew “Red” Johnson eased the band into a jam with some piano before guitarist Brian Moss low-key built it up into a substantial shred before heading back into the chorus ahead of the song’s end. The band then got into the classic “Backdoor Funk” which saw ample improvisation before Spafford offered up a newer tune, “Be Strange” (debuted in 2019), followed by “Slip And Squander.” The first frame closing section of “America” and “The Reprise” saw a bass solo from Jordan Fairless before Moss brought it home on guitar to close out the first frame.

Spafford retook the stage amidst distant cheers and honking car horns. Fairless then stepped to the mic for the bluesy “Shake You Loose.” The classic staple “Electric Taco Stand” followed which saw the band getting into the first jam of the second set. Moss eased them in with double stop work over Fairless’ bubbling bass and drummer Nick Tkachyk’s four on the floor beat. Spaff breezed through the groove before Moss built the song up once again with some soaring soloing leading the band back into the “As the times go by” refrain ahead of the song’s close. Spafford then eased into the “The Postman” followed by the staple “Salamander Song.” After heading through the jaunty tune, Spafford brought the second set to a close with the dirty, almost industrial funk of “All In.” Johnson then led the band through “Beautiful Day” for the encore.

Watch Spafford’s entire drive-in concert below:

Setlist via Spaffnerds

Set One: The Remedy, Backdoor Funk, Be Strange, Slip And Squander, America > The Reprise

Set Two: Shake You Loose, Electric Taco Stand, The Postman, Salamander Song, All In

Encore: Beautiful Day