Spafford Debuts Covers & Welcomes Guests On Halloween In Phoenix

Spafford hit close to home for Halloween at The Van Buren in Phoenix on Thursday. The four-piece welcomed a number of guests for their hometown Halloween show including guitarists Jayson Johnson and John Reuter as well as percussionist Arturo Sosa. The band also unveiled some choice covers.

Spafford got the first frame underway with a debut of Phil Collins’ “In The Air Of The Night.” After “Backdoor Funk,” “The Evil” and “Ain’t That Wrong,” the band welcomed Johnson and Sosa to unveil The Meters’ “Fire On The Bayou” before closing out the set with “Salamander Song.”

The band’s first ever take on Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” kicked off a second set that included cover debuts of “World Keeps Going Round” by Bill Withers and the Grateful Dead’s “Estimated Prophet.” Reuter joined the band for “Weasel” ahead of the set closer “Be Strange.” Spafford retook the stage for an encore of “Doghouse” into “Part II.”

Setlist via Spaffnerds:

Set One: In The Air Tonight, Backdoor Funk, The Evil, Ain’t That Wrong, Fire On the Bayou [1] > Salamander Song

Set Two: Wicked Game, The Waltz, World Keeps Going Round, Estimated Prophet > Weasel [2], Be Strange

Encore: Doghouse > Part II

• 1: Jayson Johnson on Guitar and Arturo Sosa on Percussion
• 2: John Reuter on Guitar