This past Thursday and Friday night, Prescott, AZ’s electro-funk masters Spafford came into town for a strong two-night stand to kick off their tour on the right note. Thursday saw support from Bozeman, MT-based jamgrass outfit the Kitchen Dwellers at The Fox Theatre in Boulder. Both acts, that come from different ends of the jam spectrum were put to the test, and passed with flying colors.

The Dwellers played a solid set, debuting new material off their forthcoming album that is produced by Leftover Salmon‘s Andy Thorn, who also joined the band on stage during the latter part of their set. Kitchen Dwellers are playing NYC’s American Beauty on Friday, November 11th (get info here).

Spafford highlights from the first night included an uber-funky “Electric Taco Stand” and cover of swamp-rock master JJ Grey & Mofro‘s “On Fire” into “Galisteo”. It was a solid opening night, that saw the four-piece locked in, cohesive, and fully prepped to bring serious jams to the table.

Kitchen Dwellers w/ Andy Thorn:

Spafford “On Fire” (JJ Grey & Mofro cover):

By the second night, the band was pumped up and firing on all cylinders, bringing a packed crowd to Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver. With two lengthy sets, the band was able to exercise their full potential, jamming to perfection for nearly four hours. Set one was highlighted by a trancey dance jam on “Ain’t That Wrong”, followed by a double time version of the Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ “Soul To Squeeze”. By the second set, Spafford had longtime and new fans hooked, building strong, patient jams on “People” and later on set closer and fan favorite “Backdoor Funk”.

Spafford Cervantes Other Side Set 1:

Spafford Cervantes Other Side Set 2:

Kitchen Dwellers Setlist – The Fox – 9/22/16
Farmers Son, Colder Nights, Auggie Visions, Broken Cage (New Song), Five Candles, Reuben’s train*, Up on the Hill Where They Do the Boogie*^, This Time> No Diggity+

* with Andy Thorn in fiddle
^John Hartford Cover
+Blackstreet Cover

Spafford Setlist – The Fox – 9/22/16
All In, Electric Taco Stand, Slip, On Fire > Galisteo, America, The Reprise

Spafford Setlist – Cervante’s Other Side – 9/23/16
Set One – All My Friends > Bee Jam > Windmill, Into The Mystic, Ain’t That Wrong, Soul To Squeeze, The Postman
Set Two – Red’s Jam > People, Plans > Down Under, Todd’s Tots, The Remedy > Down Under, Backdoor Funk
Encore – Hollywood > In The Eyes of Thieves

[The Fox photos courtesy of Peter Wallace @ Wallyography – Instagram: Wallyographypw]

[Cervantes photos by Randhir Bayers]