Spafford surprised fans at the Charleston Pour House on Wednesday with the debut of a new song, “Duncan’s Uncle”. The new track received a proper rollout during the band’s first of two nights in Charleston, SC, with Spafford taking the song to almost the 20-minute mark.
“Duncan’s Uncle” capped off a first set featuring a cover of Filter‘s “Take a Picture” (sung by drummer Nick Tkachyk), the band’s recently-debuted original “Motel 6”, and the fan-favorite “Backdoor Funk”. Following a fittingly elongated “Backdoor Funk”, Spafford eased into the debut of “Duncan’s Uncle”.
Keyboardist Cory Schechtman—who replaced longtime member Andrew “Red” Johnson earlier this year—introduced the track with soft-spoken electric piano. Guitarist/singer Brian Moss helmed the original with his forlorn vocals as the band took a relaxed approach, with the track slowly coming alive courtesy of Cory’s organs. The maiden “Duncan’s Uncle” was a slow build that gradually gained speed with Brian’s percussive guitar strumming, ultimately breaking open into a sizable 13-minute jam. As Moss and bassist Jordan Fairless developed a slinky undercurrent, Schechtman colored the peripheries with his synths. The jam built into a trademark Spafford peak before the band rolled back into a composed ending, making a cyclical return to the song’s blue beginnings.
Related: Spafford Covers Tom Petty, Herbie Hancock, Steve Kimock, More In Milwaukee [Videos]
Spafford travels next to Leesburg, FL this weekend for a headlining appearance at JamBurg festival alongside Tand, Underground Springhouse, MiniM, and more, after which Spafford will break for Thanksgiving. The band will then resurface in the Southeast beginning with a two-night run in Charlotte, NC (11/30–12/1). For tickets and a full list of tour dates head here.
Watch Spafford debut the new original “Duncan’s Uncle” at the Charleston Pour House below and stream the whole show on nugs.
Spafford – “Duncan’s Uncle” [Pro-Shot] – 11/15/23