Arizona-based jam quartet Spafford kicked off a series of shows in California with performances in Solana Beach on Friday night and Los Angeles on Saturday night. The band was joined by special guests each night as Karl Denson sat-in in Solana Beach and Grahame Lesh helped out on a Grateful Dead cover in Los Angeles.
Denson emerged on saxophone early on at the Belly Up Solana Beach on Friday night. Karl D. added to an expansive version of “Mind’s Unchained” that nearly hit the 20-minute mark. The Rolling Stones touring band member and Tiny Universe leader returned later in the set for a cover of John Hiatt’s “Memphis In The Meantime.” The four-piece act went on to treat San Diego area fans to a four-song second set and encored with Tears For Fears’ “Mad World.”
Midnight North opened both shows, so Spafford called upon guitarist Grahame Lesh to add to a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “West L.A. Fadeaway” that closed out the first set at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on Saturday. Saturday’s first set was also highlighted by lengthy renditions of “Electric Taco Stand” and “Backdoor Funk.” Spafford’s second set in Los Angeles was a huge “Red’s Jam” sandwich that included “Weasel” and “Palisades” within. The group said farewell in the City Of Angeles with a “Windmill” encore. Check out video of “West L.A. Fadeaway” captured by Paul Giza along with audio of both shows:
Setlists (via Spaffnerds) & Audio (Taped by Darke)
November 9 @ Belly Up (Solana Beach)
Set One: Simon & Lily, Mind’s Unchained [w/ Karl Denson], Eternity, Memphis In The Meantime [w/ Karl Denson] > Todd’s Tots
Set Two: Plans, Virtual Bean Dip > Galisteo Way, Slip And Squander
Encore: Mad World
November 10 @ Teragram Ballroom (Los Angeles)
Set One: My Road (My Road), When It Falls, Electric Taco Stand, Made For Wesley, Backdoor Funk, West La Fadeaway [w/ Grahame Lesh]
Set Two: Red’s Jam > Weasel > Palisades > Weasel > Red’s Jam
Encore: Windmill
