Watch Spafford Dust Off Emerson, Lake & Palmer Cover At Ardmore Music Hall

Spafford wrapped their extensive fall tour with a two-night stand at Ardmore Music Hall near Philadelphia over the weekend. Saturday’s finale saw the band break out Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s “Lucky Man.”

Spafford launched the last concert of their 2023 fall tour with a substantial “Walls” before embarking on a massive version of new song “Duncan’s Uncle.” Spafford then dusted off Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s “Lucky Man.”

Appearing on the prog-rock pioneers’ 1970 self-titled debut album, “Lucky Man” holds the distinction of being one of the first rock ‘n’ roll songs to utilize a Moog synthesizer. Spafford last performed “Lucky Man” in public on Halloween 2014 in Flagstaff, ArIzona where they debuted the tune, as per Spaffnerds. Making the Emerson, Lake & Palmer cover all the more special, seeing the band is one of guitarist Brian Moss’s first musical memories.

“It’s one of the first concerts I can remember with my father,” Moss stated. “Gregory Lake literally had fireworks coming out of the end of his guitar. My dad introduced me to some really great music like this and it changed me.”

Watch Spafford bust out “Lucky Man” below:

Additional highlights from the concert included Spafford’s house take on Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island” and a gargantuan exploration of “Leave The Light On” (clocking in at just over 31 minutes) to close the second frame. Spaff sealed the show and fall tour with a pairing of “Lovesick Melody” and “Soil.”

Check out official audio of Spafford’’s 2023 fall tour finale via nugs.net below:

Up next for Spafford is their New Year’s Eve run in Portland, Oregon. Check out their full tour routing with ticket info below:

Setlist (via Spaffnerds)

Set 1: Walls, Duncan’s Uncle, Lucky Man > Cantaloupe Island [1], Giants in the Light > It’s A Bunch

Set 2: Electric Taco Stand > Dis Go In 5? > Electric Taco Stand, Catfish John, Leave The Light On, Dirtbath

Encore: Lovesick Melody > Soil

Notes:

[ 1 ]: House version