Spafford & CBDB Deliver Jam-Filled Tuesday in Birmingham January 29, 2020 17:07

Last night in Birmingham, music fans were treated to one of the more jam-filled occasions in recent memory. Spafford has built a strong reputation for extended jamming and mind blowing improvisation, and this was certainly on full display at Saturn. While the band's winter tour features a number of quality supporting acts, the Birmingham faithful could not have been more excited to see Tuscaloosa natives CBDB added to this show earlier this month.

Given CBDB's loyal fan base across Alabama, it was no surprise to see such a strong crowd anxiously awaiting as they took the stage. While I've been fortunate enough to see this band on many occasions since 2015, it had been just over a year since we last crossed paths. This would be the first opportunity for many to see the band's new drummer, Chris Potocik, in action. The fan favorite "Ground Score" kicked off the set and ultimately landed in a debut cover of Miles Davis' "Black Satin." Guitarists Kris Gottlieb and Cy Simonton would then lead the band into "Patterns," a track you can find on CBDB's latest album Out of Line.

Next up was "Smile Real Big," one of the band's staples from their 2012 release Phone Keys Wallet. The upbeat vibe continued as bassist Blake Gallant hit the opening notes of "She's Mobile," an original which may feature my favorite vocal work from Simonton. Just as the band hit their 45-minute mark, they nailed the transition back into "Ground Score" and closed out as the set just as powerfully as it began. 

The Tuesday night crowd continued to fill in as Spafford prepared to take the stage. Guitarist Brian Moss immediately kicked things into high gear with the opening notes of "All My Friends," and we were off to the races. This would be the beginning of what felt like two marathon sets. We would get our second selection from the band's Taste of Fall 2017 live release as they transitioned into a scorching rendition of "Bee Jam." It's safe to call this one a "jam vehicle," as Tuesday night's take clocked in at just under an hour. One of my personal highlights came in the form of "Settled In," an original which was debuted just over a year ago and played only a handful of times in 2019. While it seemed hard to believe, the nearly 80-minute set featured just three songs, with each featuring the one-of-kind jamming we've come to expect from this band.

After a brief set break, these guys would pick up right where they left off. Bassist Jordan Fairless hit the opening notes of "It's a Bunch," which was greeted with an emphatic response from the "Spaffnerds" stretched out across the front row. This is the song that won me over back in 2016 and led me to dive deeper into the Spafford catalog. I couldn't have been more pleased to sit back and watch this journey unfold. Moss and keyboardist Andrew "Red" Johnson slowly but surely directed the band into a killer take on Bob Marley's "Exodus." I've always admired this band's overall approach towards covers, and this was as perfect example why. The opening notes of "Windmill" had the entire room grinning from ear to ear and eager for one last raging sing-a-long. 

If you were hungry for mind-bending jams and sonic exploration, Spafford's performance in Birmingham was just what the doctor ordered. I found it very fitting that they tacked on the classic "Catfish John" for the encore. After the intensity of those three-song marathon sets, this was a perfect and refreshing way to close out the evening. This band seems to be settling in to their new Birmingham home just fine, and we will be anxiously awaiting their next appearance in town.