The Last Riff: Honoring Tony Spillman’s Final Spillage Show

For the first time in my 14 years of podcasting I got emotional at a band’s show.  Tony Spillman’s final show with Spillage was this past weekend, as he’s hanging up his performing hat due to health reasons.

I first met Tony when he was with Earthen Grave, but we didn’t get to know each other until he formed Spillage. 
It wasn’t until August 2021 when I met the entire band.  They were  getting ready to release their album Electric Exorcist and I invited them to do an in-person videoed interview.  We got together in Spillage’s rehearsal space with a full film crew – lights, mics, the whole deal. 

We ate a quick lunch beforehand and, in talking, they gave me the golden key that would make this interview better than perfect:  three of the guys met in grammar school and the next two joined the others in high school!  What a history!  Although the singer joined the band in 2016, he easily fit in with the others.

The interview was so much fun.  The guys were talkative and you could tell how comfortable they were with each other as they answered questions, joked around and referenced back to their school years.  We even got to the topic of disco!  Yes; disco!

Each member of Spillage is an amazing person and I am proud to call each my friend.  But being at Tony’s last show – I was overcome with emotion and I got teary-eyed.  

And the show?  Spillage put on an excellent show!  I loved their stage presence, with their signature band member groupings, holding up their guitars in sync and recognizing their fans in the crowd.  They played a variety of their songs and each was better than the next.  Tony stepped offstage for a couple to give Ken Mandat, the new guitarist, a change to take the limelight, which I thought was cool.  A great show!

Tony is retiring from Spillage but Spillage is not retiring; the band will continue with Ken Mandat, also of Damien Thorne and formerly of Witchslayer.  I’m excited to see what Spillage creates next.

As for Tony (damn, I’m getting teary-eyed again), he’ll be creating new music and making special appearances with Spillage.   I’m so damned proud of him for all he has accomplished.  He is a proud father and grandfather of adorable grandchildren.  He’s an amazing friend to the guys in Spillage, to me and to so many people both in the Chicago music scene and just in regular life. 

Good luck, Tony – and good luck, Spillage!!!  You all ROCK!