Spafford stepped into The Backroom @ Collectivo in Milwaukee, WI over the weekend for a two-night run. In addition to welcoming guest saxophonist and occasional collaborator Jason Singer (The Nubile Thangs), Spafford celebrated its wide-ranging influences with covers by Tom Petty, Herbie Hancock, Steve Kimock, Demo Lovato, and more.
The Thursday-Friday run of shows marked Spafford’s second and third appearances at The Backroom following the band’s debut just seven months prior. That February 4th concert was among some of the band’s first after introducing keyboardist Cory Schechtman on a permanent basis following the departure of longtime piano player Andrew “Red” Johnson. The singer left the band following a New Year’s Eve performance which also marked his 11-year anniversary with Spafford.
Related: Getting To Know Spafford’s New Keyboardist Cory Schechtman [Interview]
In the wake of Red’s exodus, a great many of the keyboardist’s songs were taken off the table. Filling that gap, the band has continued to expand its songbook with new additions, a greater emphasis on guitarist Brian Moss‘s compositions, and an expanded palette of covers. Of the 20 songs played across the two-night stand, six were written by other artists. Included among the lot was longtime favorite “Memphis In The Meantime” by John Hiatt, along with some more recent additions.
The run opened with the aforementioned “Memphis In The Meantime” on Thursday, making its 57th appearance since debuting all the way back in 2014. Thursday’s show also included a take on Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island” in the second set, later followed by the fifth-ever “Take A Picture” by Filter.
Coming back for night two, Spafford had more covers in store including an early hat-tip to guitar hero Steve Kimock with “Ice Cream”. Guitarist Brian Moss took the reigns on this ripping homage to the guitarist’s guitarist who for a time performed with members of the Grateful Dead in The Other Ones, RatDog, and Phil Lesh & Friends, among myriad other projects.
At the end of set one, Spafford welcomed saxophonist Jason Singer for “Fake The Fate”. The member of Chicago’s funk-rock outfit The Nubile Thangs has collaborated with Spafford in the past, contributing to the band’s 2018 studio LP For Entertainment Only, and appears on the “Gold Glittered Hat” featured on Spaff’s 2020 compilation Live, Vol. 3. In set two, the four-piece sandwiched a surprising take on pop singer Demi Lovato’s “Anyone” in between tortillas of “Electric Taco Stand”, before Singer rejoined the party for Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers’ “Breakdown” where he emerged the star of the set-closing final cover of the run.
Check out pro-shot videos of the Spafford covers of Herbie Hancock, Steve Kimock, Demi Lovato, and Tom Petty from this past weekend in Milwaukee. The band’s tour continues Tuesday in Louisville. For tickets and a full list of tour dates head here.
Spafford – “Cantaloupe Island” (Herbie Hancock) [Pro-Shot] – 9/14/23
Spafford – “Ice Cream” (Steve Kimock) [Pro-Shot] – 9/15/23
Spafford – “Electric Taco Stand” > “Anyone” (Demi Lovato) > “Electric Taco Stand” – 9/15/23
Spafford, Jason Singer – “Breakdown” (Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers) [Pro-Shot] – 9/15/23
Setlist: Spafford | The Backroom | Milwaukee, WI | 9/14/23
Set One: Memphis In The Meantime (John Hiatt) > Fuel, Diesel Driver > Left on the Runway
Set Two: Cantaloupe Island (Herbie Hancock), Lonely, Take A Picture (Filter), Dirtbath
Setlist: Spafford | The Backroom | Milwaukee, WI | 9/15/23
Set One: Space Gadget, Ice Cream (Steve Kimock), Motel 6, Salamander Song, Backdoor Funk, Fake The Fate [1]
Set Two: Night After Night, Electric Taco Stand > Anyone (Demi Lovato) > Electric Taco Stand, Breakdown (Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers) [1]
Encore: Galisteo Way
[1] w/ Jason Singer on saxophone
The post Spafford Covers Tom Petty, Herbie Hancock, Steve Kimock, More In Milwaukee [Videos] appeared first on L4LM.
