Winter Tour 2023: Spafford w/The Orange Constant at Variety Playhouse (Atlanta)

Spafford is a jam band from Prescott, Arizona that formed back in 2009 when Brain Moss (guitar/vocals) and Jordan Fairless (bass/vocals) decided to form Spafford on New Year’s Eve in 2009. The band would eventually add Andrew “Red” Johnson (keys/vocals (2011- 2022) and Nick Tkachyk (drums/percussion/vocals) to the fold. Andrew “Red” Johnson would leave the band in 2022 to spend more time with his family. His last show would be a memorable farewell performance on New Year’s Eve (2022). Officially replacing Johnson on keys, Cory Schechtman would join the band in 2023.

Spafford is best known for intermingling many genres into their music, such as funk, jazz, rock, reggae, ska, and electro-pop into their unique sound. Another thing about Spafford that I greatly admire is their D.I.Y. mentality when it comes to releasing their studio recordings, improv studio sittings, and even their incredible live shows which are released via soundboard recordings. And just like many jam bands, Spafford has a devoted fan base (lovingly referred to as “Spaffnerds”) that will travel great distances to see this band get down while they are touring.

Spafford

And this tour stop at Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse was nothing short of amazing! From start to finish, the dudes put their heart and soul into these two (2) Jamtastic sets which also included a phenomenal cover of Stealers Wheel “Stuck In The Middle With You” mixed in the fold. Check out the set list from this evening at Variety Playhouse below:

Set I
“Giants In The Light” >
“Stuck In The Middle With You” # >
“Night After Night” >
“Stuck In The Middle With You” #
“Leave the Light On”
Set II
“Windmill” >
“Weasel” >
“Palisades” >
“Weasel”
“Galisteo Way”
Encore
“Fünkenseven”
# Stealers Wheel cover

Curious about Spafford? Follow this link to their Official Bandcamp page today and listen to 40+ live performances that have been uploaded to their profile (including all of the soundboards from The Winter Tour 2023). Or head over to their Official YouTube channel and see what they have posted.

Spafford

Opening for Spafford on their Winter Tour 2023 is the Athens, Georgia multi-dimensional, jam band named The Orange Constant. Fresh off an unforgettable New Year’s Eve performance with Augusta, Georgia very own Funk You at Savannah’s Victory North, The Orange Constant is well-known for the energetic and lively performances since forming as a band in 2012. The band consists of Andrew Brantley (guitar/vocals), Nickalous Benson (guitar/vocals), Tyler Walker (bass/vocals), Ethan Jones (drums), and Chris Freiberg (keyboards). I believe this summation by Grant Purvis (Point of Reference review) sums up The Orange Constant quite perfectly, “Eclectic rock n’ roll, everything from blissful southern rock and indie jams to urban funk.”

The Orange Constant

This was my first time getting to watch The Orange Constant perform live and I plan on not letting it be my last. After a jam happy cover of Blue Oyster Cult’s “Godzilla” and the Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), I knew this band would continue to stay on my radar for all future shows. Check out The Orange Constant’s setlist from this tour stop below:

· “Gravity”

· “Far From Home”

· Red Ryder”

· “Godzilla” #

· “Concrete Jungle”

· “Something We Can Use”

· “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” ^

# Blue Oyster Cult cover

^ Eurythmics cover

If you want to hear some of The Orange Constant, then follow this link to their Official Bandcamp page today and give them a follow! I suggest starting off with their debut LP, Time To Go, and go from there. They also have an Official YouTube channel with tons of great content.

The Orange Constant

If you are suffering from severe FOMO because you missed this tour stop featuring both Spafford and The Orange Constant in Atlanta, then do not fret because they have a solution ready to help cheer you up. It was just announced that both Spafford and The Orange Constant (plus Spaghetti Western, Airshow, Mountain Grass Unit, & The Fixin’s) will play Mental Awakening at Steady Hand Beer Co. on April 1st, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. This is the third installment of a charity fundraiser sponsored by Crawfish For A Cause. Crawfish For A Cause works to raise funds and support mental health and suicide awareness in the greater Atlanta community. So, why not come jam and support a worthwhile cause for all. Tickets options range from $10.00 - $49.99 and can be purchased via this link to Eventbrite today!

You can still catch Spafford on their Winter Tour 2023 until March 3rd-4th when they close out the Winter Tour 2023 with a two-night stand at Pappy + Harriet’s in Pioneertown, CA. Check out all of the remaining dates below:

JAN 18, 2023

Lincoln Theatre

Raleigh, NC