Alabama Astronaut

Abe Partridge & Ferrill Gibbs
  • 4.9 (197)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • WEEKLY SERIES
Alabama Astronaut

Alabama Astronaut is a podcast featuring Alabama songwriter & artist Abe Partridge. Abe discovers a set of undocumented songs in the hills of the Appalachians, and believes they are undocumented because of the subject matter: lyrics that speak of the consumption of poison, and the handling of venomous snakes. These are the songs of the serpent handlers. To capture their music, Abe must first capture the hearts and the minds of the people who wrote it...and in the process, they capture his.

  1. Foreword

    EPISODE 1

    Foreword

    Abe Partridge, a folk artist from Mobile, Alabama, approaches Ferrill Gibbs, a podcaster from Texas, in mid 2020.  With his gigs canceled due to coronavirus, Abe spends time at serpent-handling churches across the Appalachians. He explains to Ferrill how originally, his plan was to paint the oft-ridiculed sect, but while taking in their frenetic services, he began to realize their songs were powerful, and possibly, undocumented.  Abe shares audio with Ferrill of a serpent handling preacher who tied Abe's hands with a Gibson guitar strap in a worship service. Also, Ferrill draws a connection to legendary music documentarians, John Avery and Alan Lomax. Visit the website for bonus content! Alabama Astronaut Website And find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram Special thanks this episode to: John Nova LomaxAndrew HamblinTaylor Hamblin

    27 min
  2. "Brush Arbor"

    EPISODE 2

    "Brush Arbor"

    While on the road to a Panama City show, Abe tells Ferrill about his recent trip to a small church in desolate, southern West Virginia – House of the Lord Jesus. There, Abe captured audio of their worship: a blistering, rockabilly-style sound. Also, Abe tells Ferrill about a moment when Chris Wolford, the church's preacher, called out the Alabamian from the pulpit, causing Abe to recount his own days as a pastor in the mountains of east Kentucky.  Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website  Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram   Special thanks this episode to: Chris Wolford and House of the Lord Jesus Dr. Spencer Greene Will Stewart

    37 min
  3. "It's Alright With Me, Lord, if It's Alright With You"

    EPISODE 3

    "It's Alright With Me, Lord, if It's Alright With You"

    As the coronavirus finally arrives in Mobile and, most detrimentally to Abe, the Mobile music scene, Abe’s gigs begin to drop.   With more free time on his hands, he travels to Jackson County, Kentucky, to meet fourth-generation serpent-handling preacher Cody Coots, along with his songwriting wife, Cassy Coots.   Abe conducts a field recording at their house to capture generations-old songs from the duo. A life-changing friendship begins to take root.  Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content: Alabama Astronaut Podcast website  Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram   Special thanks this episode goes to:   Cody and Cassy Coots Professor Tom Lewis of UGA Dave Garrett (of the Psych Peas)

    38 min
  4. "Little David, Play On Your Harp!"

    EPISODE 4

    "Little David, Play On Your Harp!"

    The “calling out” of Abe (and his friends) at church services reaches a boiling point at the famed “Old Rockhouse Holiness” in Section, Alabama. It's the church where author Dennis Covington of the hit book Salvation on Sand Mountain once became a convert and handled a massive rattlesnake. Abe tells the story of the founding of the church: the infamous murder trial and conviction at the heart of it.   After one service that Abe attended, with rattlesnakes in the building, the lights are shut off. In the darkness, Abe and his friend consider running out of the church. Meanwhile, Abe has his first encounter with National Geographic: a run-in with a photographer at both Old Rockhouse Holiness Church and, in the same weekend, Jimmy Morrow’s church in Cocke County, Tennessee.   Brother Jimmy Morrow takes Abe to a graveyard high in the east Tennessee mountains, to see the graves of four believers who died following the signs.  Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website   Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram  Special thanks this episode:  Old Rock House Holiness Church Bro. Billy Summerford Dave Garrett Morgan "Willy Mo" Hammond

    1 hr
  5. "Preach the Word, Preacher Man!"

    EPISODE 5

    "Preach the Word, Preacher Man!"

    The story takes a turn. Jimmy Morrow, founder and preacher of Edwina Church of God in Jesus' Name, invites Abe into his home. Sensing that Abe has a “good spirit,” Jimmy shows Abe his poetry, art, and a comprehensive collection of serpent-handling history and lore.   Afterwards, Jimmy and Pam Morrow both sing songs for Abe from their faith, a capella. Meanwhile, Abe discusses with Ferrill the idea of faith at a “cost”… and why Abe finds meaning in that.   Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website  Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram   Special thanks this episode goes to:   Jimmy and Pam Morrow Dr. Thomas Ryba Barbara Gibbs Allen

    54 min
  6. "Jesus Made the World"

    EPISODE 6

    "Jesus Made the World"

    After months of corresponding with Cody and Cassy Coots, Abe decides to make a studio album for them. It's to feature serpent-handling songs that have been sung in Cody's church for generations.  Abe enlists the help of host Ferrill Gibbs to record it, who travels from Houston to meet up with Abe in Birmingham, Alabama. Together, they make a beeline for Middlesboro, Kentucky, in Abe's white touring van.  Once in Middlesboro, the two convert Cody’s great-grandfather’s church – Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name – into a recording studio. With a six-foot rattlesnake lounging nearby (named "Ol' Lemonhead"), Abe, Ferrill and the Coots make a fully-produced, multi-track, multi-instrumental studio album called "The Coots Duo." The rough tracks being a post-production process in Nashville, Tennessee.   Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website  Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram Special thanks this episode!   Cody and Cassy Coots Jay Smack Brent Busby Andrew Hamblin and the Free Pentecostal House of Prayer Greg Coots and the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name

    58 min
  7. "Jesus On My Mind"

    EPISODE 7

    "Jesus On My Mind"

    Abe and Ferrill return from the Coots' recording session in Middlesboro, Ky., then conduct an extensive internet search to verify that they are truly the pioneers of recording these songs. They are surprised to discover an artist from New York named Tony Feyer, whose history with the serpent-handling faith includes documenting of one of the most legendary serpent-handling churches of all time: the Church of the Lord Jesus in Jolo, West Virginia.  Tony befriends Ferrill and Abe, and offers to share copies of DAT recordings he produced in the early 90’s. These recordings were the fruit of Tony’s partnership with none other than American folk music documentarian, Alan Lomax.   Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram   Special thanks this episode: American Folklife Center, Library of Congress: Aunt Molly Jackson speaking on serpent handlers Tony Feyer Andrew and Taylor HamblinGregory and Cody CootsElizabeth "Fish" GibbsCathy Partridge

    1h 4m
  8. "All Over Me" Part 1

    EPISODE 8

    "All Over Me" Part 1

    Ferrill tracks down Dennis Covington, author of Salvation on Sand Mountain, only to discover that Mr. Covington suffers from a condition brought about by his own quest for faith, detailed in a 2014 autobiography, "Revelation."  Ferrill pre-interviews Covington, scheduling a day for Abe to interview the author in Lubbock, Texas.   Meanwhile, Abe beelines to the bedside of Billy Summerford, preacher of Old Rockhouse Holiness Church, who is dying of cancer. At Billy’s bedside, Abe re-encounters Greg Coots, Cody’s Grandfather. Abe tells Greg about an album he’s been searching for, a recording of Greg’s parents, the founders of Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name. Visit the Alabama Astronaut Podcast website for more content! Alabama Astronaut Podcast website Find us on social, too: Alabama Astronaut Facebook Alabama Astronaut's Twitter Alabama Astronaut Instagram   Special thanks goes to:   Shawn Byrne The Bluebird Cafe Dennis Covington and the family of Dennis Covington Andrew and Taylor Hamblin Cathy Partridge Elizabeth "Fish" Gibbs Gregory Coots Cody and Cassy Coots Tony FeyerCathy Partridge

    54 min
See All (13)

4.9
out of 5
197 Ratings

About

Alabama Astronaut is a podcast featuring Alabama songwriter & artist Abe Partridge. Abe discovers a set of undocumented songs in the hills of the Appalachians, and believes they are undocumented because of the subject matter: lyrics that speak of the consumption of poison, and the handling of venomous snakes. These are the songs of the serpent handlers. To capture their music, Abe must first capture the hearts and the minds of the people who wrote it...and in the process, they capture his.

Information

  • Creator
    Abe Partridge & Ferrill Gibbs
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    Alabama Astronaut

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada