Subscribe to RSSSpafford plays in the Flagstaff Green Room
By Rolando Garcia
Spafford plays a set in the Green Room. (Photo by Rolando Garcia)
A late Saturday evening in the Green Room, after undergoing
extensive preparation, planning and advertising, Flagstaff welcomed Spafford to enchant an audience yearning for originality with its psychedelic and lively melodies.
A shade of purple from the stage tenderly illuminated the encompassing dance-floor; a guitar, bass, drum set and keyboard faced the incoming guests; and the quiet chatter became drowned by routinely operations of the bar. The band entered the stage discretely, and immediately began to play — their music became the immediate center of attention. The drums struck a person’s sense of rhythm with the same intensity and passion with which the drummer struck his instruments; the bass guided the audience’s attention to a state of elevated awareness. It softly but decisively whispered, “listen” ; the guitar lifted and awoke, it summoned to the surface and the dance floor every ounce of excitement; the keyboard provided the music itself with an identity, it made itself knowable, and clung itself to the guests’ memory. The lights became alive and resuscitated the surroundings: people got up and danced.
This is a usual reaction for Spafford. From their first show on New Year’s Eve of 2010, Spafford has received an outstanding reception throughout and outside Arizona.
What started out as a group playing open-mics in Prescott has developed into a much loved and heavily booked four-person band comprising Brian Moss, Nick Tkachyk, Jordan Fastaloodis and Andrew “Red” Johnson playing the guitar/vocals, drums, bass and keyboard, respectively.
Moss had been involved in music from an early age, and has been influenced by jam music for years.
“The style of music that I was writing at that time, and still today, is jam music — but it has evolved over the years into a more heavy base and electronica. We really like that,” he said.
Spafford is a lot more than just jam music. Its members come from a variety of musical backgrounds; their collective contributions of reggae, alternative rock, and other genres produce the unique and energetic harmony of Spafford.
“We were just playing good music. We didn’t have a genre in mind,” Moss said.
Spafford recently released their self-titled debut album containing nine tracks. Their name continues to get out, and they are constantly booking venues in Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado. As a result, their band requires a heavy time investment, but keeping their effort and talent, they will continue on their path to fame.
To those interested, you can see Spafford live along with other bands at the “Kaleidoscope Kamp Out” Music Festival Saturday Sept. 29 in the Pepsi Amphitheater.
“We love playing for people who love listening to us,” Moss said. And people do love listening to Spafford; they did more than listen at the Green Room, one by one people began to gather on the dance floor to let go and have fun.
