Spafford is a name that has been growing in circulation within the jam scene, and for good reason. Their music is the perfect fusion of alternative rock, funk, jazz, bluegrass, and dance jams, and they have lyrics to sing as well! They could easily be an instrumental band, and some of the tracks are, but why leave the vocal element out when you’re music is this good? They sound like all the other jam bands you’re familiar with, but somehow sound like nothing you’ve ever heard before. With so much happening in the electronic jam scene, fans are constantly looking for that organic creative improvisation, which Spafford more than delivers on, and with a refreshing new sound.
Spafford – Photo by Phierce Photo
This four-piece from Phoenix, Arizona formed in 2009 when members started playing at open mics and were getting people to dance, so they just kept doing it and accidentally started the band. They got offered their first gig for New Years Eve 2009-10 and the rest is history. Spafford is comprised of Jordan Fairless (Bass/Vocals), Red Johnson (Keys/Vocals), Brian Moss (Guitar/Vocals) and Cameron Laforest (Drums/Vocals).
Spafford recently created something outstanding and pure, a new live studio album titled Abaculus: An Improvisational Experience, out today, August 9th. This album was recorded in a single take and is presented as an hour-long single track. The magic went down at The Pound in Phoenix and is completely improvised. It’s how music should be created. One member lays something down and the rest join in, letting the sound flow naturally and build organically as each member is submerged in the moment and not consciously aware what will come next. One minute you’re in a classy jazz lounge, then the next minute you’re jamming out at a Grateful Dead or Phish show, and somehow that sound morphs into a Disco Biscuits electronic dance type tune. This album is a dynamic living breathing creature touching all corners of your earholes.
Listen to Abaculus now! Available digitally via iTunes and Spotify starting today. The band did a live stream of the album at noon on Spafford’s Facebook Page.
I absolutely can not wait to see them at this year’s SUWANNEE HULAWEEN FESTIVAL at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida on Halloween weekend! They are probably the band I’m most excited to see on the lineup.
Their song “Reprise” is my new favorite jam to get amped up to. Starting out with a sexy slow funk groove, it eventually evolves into one of the most hype and dirtiest funk rock riff I’ve ever heard, making it impossible for me not to bounce to the beat with a very animated head bang. It’s arguably their most popular song.
Spafford recently held a mega after-party on Saturday, August 5th, during Phish’s 13-night Madison Square Garden run, known as The Baker’s Dozen. Following the ‘Boston Creme’ theme night at The Baker’s Dozen, Spafford held a sold-out late-night performance at New York City’s B.B. King Blues Club and Grill. The last segment of the show started off with the track “America” that builds into a shred-heavy close which features a “The Reprise” tease before the buoyant “Galisteo Way.” The band then gives us what we want and closes the set strong and sliding into the pocket grooves of “The Reprise.”
SPAFFORD TOUR DATES
8/10 – 8/13 – Scranton, PA - Peach Music Festival
9/2 – Chicago, IL – North Coast Music Festival
9/9 – Bellvue, CO – Canyon Jam
9/21 – 9/23 – Thornville, OH – Resonance Music Festival
9/27 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
9/28 – Baltimore, MD – The 8X10
9/29 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry @ The Fillmore
9/30 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
10/1 – Ithaca, NY – The Haunt
10/3 – South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Showcase Lounge
10/4 – Hamden, CT – The Ballroom at The Outer Space
10/5 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
10/6 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair
10/7 – Portland, ME – Port City Music Hall
10/8 – Albany, NY – Lucky Strike Social
10/11 – State College, PA – State Theatre
10/12 – Columbus, OH – A&R Music Bar
10/13 – Bloomington, IN – Bluebird Nightclub
10/14 – Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig
10/15 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Pyramid Scheme
10/17 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre
10/19 – Columbia, MO – Rose Music Hall
10/20 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
10/21 & 10/22 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Music Hall
10/24 – Charlotte, NC – Visulite Theatre
10/25 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
10/27 – 10/29 – Live Oak, FL – Suwannee Hulaween
10/31 – New Orleans, LA – Parish @ House of Blues
11/2 – Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon
11/3 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall Upstairs
11/4 – Austin, TX - Antone’s Night Club
11/5 – Dallas, TX – HoB Cambridge Room
11/7 – Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck
11/8 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
11/9 – Denver – CO – Ogden Theatre
11/11 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall *
11/14 – Seattle, WA – Crocodile Cafe
11/15 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
11/16 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
11/17 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom
11/18 – Flagstaff, AZ – Orpheum Theater
12/1 – 12/5 – Punta Cana, DR – Dominican Holidaze
NEW MUSIC: Spafford by Richie Williams (The Sober Goat)
▼ SHOWS TO GO TO ▼
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Shows I Go To South Florida Giveaway, Reviews, Photos, and more
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- The Commission Beer Chamber
- Kingfish Records (Clearwater)
- Nora's Sugar Shack!
- Park Ave CDs
- Montgomery Drive Presents
- RT-Art Printing
- The Mary Jane 'High-Quality' Art Gallery
- The Owl's Attic Vintage Shop
- Broken Strings Brewery
- American Combat Club
- Lazy Moon Pizza
- Ten10 Brewing
- Leguminati
- Mutiny Ocala
- The Tipsy Skipper
- Conrad's Beer Shanty
- AKT Shirt Printing
- Smartpunk Records & Shop
- No Clubs Presents
- DaddyKool Records
- Galactic G Skateshop
