Games and Prizes: Winter Games 2020

[GeorgeBailey]

Humble suggestion for next tour: With a 1 point and a 3 point option, what about a 2 point option for correct song/set.

1 point for song played
2 points for correct song/set
3 points for set opener.

That adds more point-scoring opportunities and some separation from nights like last night where a large number of people were aware that Ain't That Wrong had been cut the night before and probably had it somewhere in their picks. Plus, it's easier to get the show right than the set, so it should be more valuable.

Just a thought!

[BlaiseStafford]

@GeorgeBailey absolutely I will definitely make a note of it. Once tour is over there will be discussion between all Nerds on what we can do to make it better. Thanks George

[BlaiseStafford]

Good morning Nerds!

Another night in the books. I cant say it was a good one for me. I got skunked for the first time this tour with no points. Thankfully we have many more shows until tour is over in April.

Who's ready for the weekend? I sure am. I couldn't think of a better way to start it than listening to past shows and getting ready for tonight's show. One show in particular I would recommend you to listen to would be 1-31-18 Culture Room from 2 years ago to the day almost. This was such a great show and such a spectacular one off jam (CULTURE JAM). IMO I think they need to revisit this jam and convert it into a regular song it was just that good.

Well lets get to it. Here are my picks as usual:

Set One: DIrty Laundry
Set Two: Ginger Stardust
Encore: Fuel

Hope every one has a good weekend. Same as last night deadline for picks is 7pm CENTRAL Time.

Thanks,
Blaise!

RANK	NAME	TOTAL POINTS
1	EVAN NORTON	20
2	GEOFF WORKS	18
2	JEFF STEWART	18
4	CHARLIE BLANKENSHIP	17
4	JESSE FIRESTONE	17
4	MARC JABLON	17
7	JOSHUA FLOYD	15
8	ANGIE CASEY	14
8	ALEX OBOLENSKY	14
10	JUNE VAL	13
10	SEAN WILLIAMS	13
10	MARTIN MCCUE	13
13	ROSS BORGIAS	11
13	JOSEPH PERULLO	11
13	RYAN KNAPP	11
13	BRADY LAMBERT	11
17	BLAISE STAFFORD	10
17	JOHN CASEY	10
17	JERRY CASEY	10
17	BRENNAN ZELENSKI	10
17	DEAN WILLIAMS	10
22	MICHAEL PEARLMAN	9
22	TYLER AKINS	9
24	ELLIOT SMITH	7
24	CRISTINA RYAN	7
24	KNOT PARRISH	7
24	MARC PEDERSEN	7
24	NELSON PAGANO	7
24	MICHAEL ROTHSCHILD	7
24	JOHN LOVRICH	7
31	MARK ROBINSON	6
31	PETER CHASE	6
31	TYLER JONES	6
34	ANDY BEESON	4
34	ANTHONY MARRIOTT	4
34	COLE BRUICK	4
37	HEIDI SALLER	2
37	KEVIN ANDERSON	2
37	GARRET PATTERSON	2
37	JUSTIN MAYS	2
41	TORY BAGGETT	1
41	KALEN HOGAN	1
41	WARREN MOLDEN	1
41	CHARLES SALERNO	1
45	MARK SPELKER	0
45	DAMIAN SILBERNIFF	0
45	NOAH JEFFRIES	0
45	PAUL JENKINS	0
45	GINA BUCKMAN	0
45	ERICA DANG	0
45	GABRIEL PHILLIPS	0
45	JENNA RICHARDSON	0
45	NEIL LIEBERT	0
45	GRAYSON KLINGER	0
45	WILLIAM PERKINS	0
45	ALEX KIAIE	0
45	GEORGE REICHARDT	0
45	DAKOTA THORINGTON	0
45	KEVIN NISBET	0

[BlaiseStafford]

Hey Nerds I just updated the leaderboards. Josh Floyd pointed out to me I forgot to switch his encore pick last night. He switched to The Evil which worked out well and gave him a 5 banger. He is now tied for first at 20 points. Great song switch Josh!

PLEASE NERDS!

Do yourself a favor and go through the spreadsheet and make sure I am submitting your picks correctly and that I am updating your picks if you decided to change your mind. I'm only human and will make mistakes throughout the course of this tour. I'm trying my best to keep track of all the emails I get everyday to make sure I enter your picks correctly.

Pleas help me help you make sure you get the points that you deserve.

Thanks,
Blaise

[BlaiseStafford]

Good morning Nerds!

Another great night is in the books. Who's ready for another one?

We have had a decent amount of repeats and still have a lot of original material that has been left on the table and yet to be played.

CRAZY
DIANA
FUEL
GINGER STARDUST
THE HARD WAY
LEVILAN SHORES
RADIO
SETTLED IN
SEVEN
SMOOTH, RELAX, DOWN
SPACE GADGET
STEAK SAUCE
THE MAN
THE WALTZ
As always here are my picks for tonight:

Set One: Ginger Stardust
Set Two: The Postman
Encore: Settled In

Please have your picks in tonight by 7pm CENTRAL TIME.

Hope everyone enjoys their Saturday. Should be a fun one for me going to the casino later tonight. Then having a poker game at my place while hopefully streaming the show. Lets hope I come out on top.

Thanks,
Blaise

[BlaiseStafford]

Good morning Nerds!

Week 2 is over and in the books. Man did they go out with a bang with last nights show. I'm very excited to listen to the second set. I only streamed the first set last night and damn was that good or what?

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. We now have a 2 day break until they start back up again on the 28th in Bama.

Picks for the 28th will have a 7pm CENTRAL time deadline. I will send a reminder the morning of and will also send my guesses for that show as well.

Happy Sunday have a good day Nerds!

Thanks,
Blaise

[BlaiseStafford]

Good morning Nerds!

HOLY BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE JAM.

If you're wondering why there is so many "E's" (57 to be exact) its because they gifted us 57 minutes of very explorative jams that did not disappoint.

Could you ask for a better Tuesday night in Bama? You gotta love TWO 3 SONG SETS.. Only 7 songs played in total all night.

They really got weird just like they said they would and made sure to keep the night interesting.

As always here are my picks for tonight:

Set One: Ginger Stardust
Set Two: Virtual Bean Dip
Encore: Fuel

Please have your picks in by 8pm CENTRAL time please.

Have a nice day Nerds!

Thanks,
Blaise

[jeenot]

Take note that the set list has been updated to include "Aliens" in between B jam and Settled In.

(Bummer for those of us who were bent on Space Gadget)

[damian]

@jeenot I'm getting confirmation on Aliens. The official Facebook didn't cite it. It may not have been played.

[damian]

It was not played. I am removing it.

[BlaiseStafford]

Good morning Nerds!

I wish I could've been at the show last night. That venue looked nice and small and must have felt super intimate.

We had the first 3peats of the tour last night and there was a handful of them.

Broken Wing
Mind's Unchained
My Road (My Road)
People

How about that Simon & Lilly, damn was that good. I'm not sure if I'm correct or not, but I believe that was only the second time they have ever jammed that song. (First jam 10/12/19 @ the 8x10) That being said IMO the Simon & Lilly from last night is the GOAT in my book.

That entire 2nd set was just fire. They Killed IT. IMO that 2nd set was the best set they have played all tour thus far. That almost 40 minute Memphis in the Meantime was just absolutely phenomenal.

As always here are my picks:

Set One: Red's Jam
Set Two: Dirtbath
Encore: Galisteo Way

Deadline for picks tonight is 8pm CENTRAL time.

Thanks,
Blaise

[BlaiseStafford]

Good morning Nerds! Happy Friday!

Jeff Stewart has taken 1st place and has given himself a nice cushion, but don't get too "Comfortable" He currently has 30pts with a 5 point lead over 2nd place. Nice job Jeff can you keep it up?

Tonight the Gents head to Atlanta. I cant wait they always kill it in ATL, but we don't have to wait until the show to enjoy some live Spafford.

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Make sure to tune in for this if you're able to. It should be a fun time.

As always here are my picks for tonight:

Set One: Dirtbath
Set Two: Red's Jam
Encore: Virtual Bean Dip

We are on the East coast now so please have your picks in by 7pm CENTRAL TIME

Thanks,
Blaise!

RANK	NAME	TOTAL POINTS
1	JEFF STEWART	30
2	GEOFF WORKS	25
2	EVAN NORTON	25
4	JESSE FIRESTONE	24
5	JOSHUA FLOYD	23
6	ANGIE CASEY	21
6	CHARLIE BLANKENSHIP	21
6	MARC JABLON	21
6	TYLER AKINS	21
10	ROSS BORGIAS	20
11	ALEX OBOLENSKY	17
11	DEAN WILLIAMS	17
13	JUNE VAL	16
13	MICHAEL ROTHSCHILD	16
13	JOHN CASEY	16
13	JERRY CASEY	16
17	SEAN WILLIAMS	15
17	RYAN KNAPP	15
17	BRADY LAMBERT	15
20	BLAISE STAFFORD	14
20	KNOT PARRISH	14
22	MARTIN MCCUE	13
22	JOSEPH PERULLO	13
24	PETER CHASE	12
24	MICHAEL PEARLMAN	12
24	JOHN LOVRICH	12
27	BRENNAN ZELENSKI	10
28	MARK ROBINSON	9
28	TYLER JONES	9
28	MARC PEDERSEN	9
28	NELSON PAGANO	9
32	CRISTINA RYAN	8
32	ANDY BEESON	8
34	ELLIOT SMITH	7
34	COLE BRUICK	7
36	ANTHONY MARRIOTT	4
37	HEIDI SALLER	2
37	KEVIN ANDERSON	2
37	GARRET PATTERSON	2
37	JUSTIN MAYS	2
37	CHARLES SALERNO	2
42	TORY BAGGETT	1
42	KALEN HOGAN	1
42	WARREN MOLDEN	1
42	KEVIN NISBET	1
46	MARK SPELKER	0
46	DAMIAN SILBERNIFF	0
46	NOAH JEFFRIES	0
46	PAUL JENKINS	0
46	GINA BUCKMAN	0
46	ERICA DANG	0
46	GABRIEL PHILLIPS	0
46	JENNA RICHARDSON	0
46	NEIL LIEBERT	0
46	GRAYSON KLINGER	0
46	WILLIAM PERKINS	0
46	ALEX KIAIE	0
46	GEORGE REICHARDT	0
46	DAKOTA THORINGTON	0

[BlaiseStafford]

Good morning Nerds!

Sorry I'm posting a little later than I usually do.

We finally got that damn Ginger Stardust. I think I've had that as a pick at least 7 times and of course when i don't pick it they play it.

The boys are at the Variety Playhouse again "Night After Night"

As always here are my picks:

Set One: Double Time
Set Two: Virtual Bean Dip
Encore: Night After Night

Please have your picks in by 7pm CENTRAL time

[BlaiseStafford]

Good afternoon Nerds!

Happy Supberbowl Sunday! Go Chiefs

I'm a die hard Bears fan, but since they didn't make it I will be cheering for the Chiefs today because my cousin works for the team. Lucky bastard gets to be in the press box for the game and his wife got a free ticket to the game.

That being said there was a bunch of points scored last night. I want to say at least 10 people guessed LTLO in the correct position. Nice job!

We have one day of rest until we start up the new week again. The leaderboards are getting heated and tight.

I will send a reminder tomorrow morning for the next shows picks as well as my picks.

Everybody enjoy the Superbowl and pig the fuck out. Please drive safely.

Thanks,
Blaise

[BlaiseStafford]

Good morning Nerds!

There's nothing like a rare Monday night show.

Congrats Cristina Ryan with the "Stormy Monday" opener pick. (Only the 2nd time played)

We had our first song count reach 4 last night with "Broken Wing" I could've never guessed that would be the case.

We have got ourselves another day off before we approach the 5 nights in a row with Brooklyn Bowl on the back end. After that we will have a long 19 day break before the gents start up again on their 10 run Colorado leg.

I will be sending out a reminder email tomorrow as well as my picks for the 2/5 9:30 Club.

Enjoy the rest of your day and think of some good educated picks for tomorrow nights show.

Thanks,
Blaise

[BlaiseStafford]

Good morning Nerds!

No one had a good night with picks last night. I think maybe a handful of people got 1 point, might have only been a couple. Lets hope we can all bounce back tonight in Boston.

Here are my picks as always:

Set One: All In
Set Two: Todd's Tots
Encore: Levilan Shores

Please have your picks in by 7pm CENTRAL time.

Thanks,
Blaise

[BlaiseStafford]

Good morning Nerds!

Well it looks like everyone bounced back from the awful night of picks from 2/5. There were a lot of correct guesses and "It's A Bunch" of 5 bangers and 3 bangers going up on the leaderboards.

It's "Crazy" to believe that they played "Parody" for a second time this tour already. I would be shocked if they played it a third time, but who knows the setlists have been quite different this tour. I'm sure all of you Nerds have your "Mind's Unchained" just as much as I do with these setlists. Damn you BLLOYD you put a rift in the ALGORITHM. We still have yet to hear 9 originals.

I think "DIANA" is "CRAZY". I hear she likes to put "STEAK SAUCE" on prime cuts. She really needs to jump in the car and "FUEL" up and turn that "RADIO" to channel "SEVEN". I know she has GPS, but damn does she always like to take "THE HARD WAY' to get to "LEVILAN SHORES" Who knows maybe she'll make her way to "THIS CITY" (BROOKLYN) for the first time since 06/04/2014 and join fellow Nerds tonight in dancing "THE WALTZ" to some Electric Funk Therapy.

Here are my picks as always:

Set One: It's A Bunch
Set Two: My Road (My Road)
Encore: Levilan Shores

Please have picks in by 7pm CENTRAL time tonight.

Happy Friday and enjoy the BK Bowl if you're attending.

Thanks,
Blaise

[BlaiseStafford]

Good morning Nerds!

My apologies for not replying to your emails yesterday. I had a lot of shit to get done and wasn't able to send out the leaderboards at all and didn't get the reminder email out until about 6:45 pm central time.

I have just updated everything, BUT I would like all of you to go through your picks for the last 2 shows (2/7 &2/8) and make sure I entered all of your picks correctly. There is a good chance I might have missed something or submitted an incorrect pick since I just had to go through about 50ish emails. So if I messed something up please bring it to my attention ASAP so I can resolve the issue right away and reward you with the precious points you deserve.

All that being said here are my picks for the show tonight:

Set One: Be Strange
Set Two: Ginger Stardust
Encore: Home (One Place I'll Never Be)

Happy Sunday If you're at BK Bowl enjoy the show.

Thanks,
Blaise

[BlaiseStafford]

Good morning Nerds!

It's hard to believe that the first half of tour is over and done with. It went by fast, but damn did I enjoy every minute of it.

Last nights acoustic set was pretty awesome. We finally got some songs that were played for the first time all tour "Radio" and "Levilan Shores". We also had 2 covers debut last night "I Try" and "Dig Down" That leaves us with the following originals that have not been played:

Crazy
Diana
Fuel
The Hard Way
Seven
Steak Sauce
The Waltz

There has been many ups and downs in the leaderboards, as expected. Some have consistently kept rising and staying at the top. As of right now Jeff Stewart (44) is leading the pack with a "comfortable" 6 point lead over Charlie Blankeship and Geoff Works who are tied for 2nd at 38 pts each.

We now have ourselves a 3 week break until we start up again for a 10 show Colorado run.

I hope everyone is having as much fun as I am and are enjoying this new way to experience Spafford tour.

I'll send pick reminders in 3 weeks when we kick back off on 2/28/20.

Thanks,
Blaise

[BlaiseStafford]

Good afternoon Nerds!

How's everyone doing during this tour break? It feels to me like they haven't played in months and can not wait for it to all begin again next Friday 2/28.

I have updated the spreadsheet and have attached it. During break I have gone through all of the original songs played and listened to each one back to back to determine which ones were the best version. Thankfully I am encouraged to listen to music at work so I was able to get this done pretty quickly.

For a few songs it was tough to narrow it down to just one so a few songs have multiples because the jams were just so good.

Here is a break down of best versions per show IMO:

1/15: 2
1/16: 2
1/17: 5
1/18: 4
1/19: 2
1/22: 3
1/23: 7
1/24: 3
1/25: 4
1/28: 4
1/29: 4
1/30: 5
1/31: 3
2/1: 4
2/3: 4
2/5: 1
2/6: 3
2/7: 2
2/8: 2
2/9: 10

Obviously the 2/9 BK Bowl has the most because that was just incredible to hear so many originals in acoustic. The next show with the most best versions of originals was 1/23 @ The Orpheum.

I'm sure many of you will probably disagree with some of my selections, but that is perfectly fine. I just picked everything that really grabbed ears and got me groovin.

Song picks highlighted in YELLOW means I did not listen to the 2/5 show because it is not on NUGS, but could very well have a better version than what I have selected. Songs highlighted in BLUE means the song was only played once on tour so obviously it is the only best version.

Here are some playlists that I have made for the previous 3 tours. Some of you might have already saved these on your NUGS because I posted these on Facebook awhile back. If not I encourage you to dive in.

Check out this playlist “2019 Winter Tour Best Versions (ORIGINALS)” I made via @nugsnet_app App
https://2nu.gs/32edFZZ

Check out this playlist “2019 Winter Tour Best Versions (ORIGINALS)” I made via @nugsnet_app App
https://2nu.gs/32edFZZ

Check out this playlist “2019 Fall Tour Best Versions (Originals]” I made via @nugsnet_app App
https://2nu.gs/38IUYAa

Only 8 more days till I send out an email with my picks and asking for yours. I cant wait!

Thank you Sean Williams for hooking up the 1/30 show playlist since it kept disappearing on my NUGS. Because of you I was able to finish this today. Thanks again my friend. If you guys don't know Sean check him out and his amazing artwork on Facebook. His art FB page is HEADDY HARDWARE. Elliot Smith thank you as well for trying to help me out with 1/30 show problems as well.

Have a good day Nerds!

Thanks,
Blaise