As the sun set over Mesa, Ariz., Spafford took the stage at the Digital Drive-In on Sunday evening for a socially-distanced gathering of music fans in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
The highly anticipated show was one of the first of its kind in America, and the limited physical tickets sold out in a matter of seconds.
Spafford kicked things off with “The Remedy,” and really hit their stride on the following “Backdoor Funk,” as a stomping jam made way for an impressive string of improvisations by guitarist Brian Moss.
Adding to the audience cars/fans in front of (and behind) the stage, the show was broadcast globally over YouTube and Spafford’s social media accounts. At times, the stream would show fans – some wearing “Spaffnerds” tshirts, others holding glowsticks – dancing more that six feet apart with faces covered by masks.
The desert was dark by the end of Spafford’s mid-set “Slip and Squander,” and they were sure to leave the crowd begging for more with a set-ending “America,” which bled into a ripping “The Reprise” closer.
As Spafford brought their first frame to an end, fans showed their appreciation by honking their car horns.
Set two highlights included a string of Spafford live favorites, from an opening “Shake You Loose,” to a far-reaching “Electric Taco Stand,” to a set-closing “All-In.”
“Thank you guys so much. Stay safe. Thanks for coming out,” keyboardist Andrew “Red” Johnson told the audience warmly, after leading the band on a “Beautiful Day” encore, which rang in the ears of everyone watching – particularly the lyric, “I know that days like these come around only once in a while.”
For more information about Spafford’s “At The Drive-In” performance visit their official website.
Watch the full show and check out the setlist below:
Spafford
May 24, 2020
Digital Drive-In, Mesa, Ariz.
Set I: The Remedy, Backdoor Funk, Be Strange, Slip and Squander, America> The Reprise
Set II: Shake You Loose, Electric Taco Stand, The Postman, Salamander Song, All In
Enc: Beautiful Day
5 Comments comments associated with this post
Lockdown Diaries: A Mood Shift Is In The Air | The Opinionator by Irma Zandl | Trends. Business. Media. Culture.
May 29, 2020 at 6:01 am[…] Spafford, an Indie band out of Mesa, hosted their first “social-distant” concert last weekend. Tickets sold out in minutes. […]
MAGA4EVA
May 26, 2020 at 11:45 amWelcome to The New Live Nation Paradigm.
We will pay dearly for this honor.
nealbook
May 25, 2020 at 2:26 pmNo honking to songs. Cars towards the front and trucks to the back so no view blocked.
Jesse
May 25, 2020 at 1:23 pmI’m just curious if anyone honked their horn along with the music; that’s my fear about these things.
V
May 25, 2020 at 1:28 pmIt’s the analogy to the “woo”! I really hope people aren’t bringing signs to put on top of their cars. Also, knowing my luck, I’ll be parked to that tall SUV who is blocking my view.