Alabama Astronaut
Abe Partridge & Ferrill Gibbs
All episodes
Best episodes
Top 10 Alabama Astronaut Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Alabama Astronaut episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Alabama Astronaut for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Alabama Astronaut episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Bonus Episode 2
Alabama Astronaut
09/28/22 • 15 min
Regarding Glenn Summerford: the serpent-handling preacher from Episode 4 found guilty of forcing his wife's hand into a box of rattlesnakes... a listener emailed with a question about his first two felonies. Her name is Sarah, and she was a public defender for over a decade in Kentucky.
Bonus Episode 1
Alabama Astronaut
09/21/22 • 15 min
When Abe first decided to co-produce a podcast about his music-documenting journey, he approached the serpent handlers and told them of his plans.
Knowing they'd been the subject of ridicule in the past (and that they probably didn't trust him), Abe promised he would send them the podcast before it was ever released.
He said they could have full editorial control.
When he and Ferrill completed a draft worthy of release, Abe sent the podcast to serpent handlers Cody Coots, Cassy Coots, Andrew Hamblin and Taylor Hamblin.
In return, he received a downright humbling text ...
Bonus Episode: Alabama Astronaut Live!
Alabama Astronaut
02/02/23 • 24 min
This episode attempts to recreate the warmth surrounding Abe’s artist reception, "With Signs Following, featuring dozens of Abe's paintings that depict characters from the serpent handling faith. Many events described in Alabama Astronaut came alive to the soundtrack of Abe’s field recordings.
Abe's art exhibit is viewable at the Alabama Contemporary Art Center until May 20th. For more information, go here!
Alabama Astronaut Bonus Episode: The Art Show!
Alabama Astronaut
01/06/23 • 10 min
The artist's reception on January 21st:
Alabama Contemporary Art Center
301 Conti Street
Mobile, Alabama 36602
"Abe Partridge is a touring musician and artist from Mobile, AL; fundamentally a storyteller who fuses a heady mix of backwoods baptismal and back alley punk rock. His background as a baptist preacher who experienced a crisis/conversion of faith allows him to travel roads less traveled. For the last two years Partridge has made regular visits and embedded himself in several communities of Appalachian religious snake-handlers. After much time spent, he was given permission to document his experiences; the music, rituals, and stories that called to him. This is an exhibition of new work exploring those experiences, made in direct collaboration with this community.
OPENING RECEPTION
January 21 @ 6 PM"
Foreword
Alabama Astronaut
09/14/22 • 27 min
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!
And find us on social, too:
Special thanks this episode to:
John Nova Lomax
Andrew Hamblin
Taylor Hamblin
"Brush Arbor"
Alabama Astronaut
09/14/22 • 36 min
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:
Special thanks this episode to:
Chris Wolford and House of the Lord Jesus
Dr. Spencer Greene
Will Stewart
"Little David, Play On Your Harp!"
Alabama Astronaut
09/14/22 • 60 min
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:
Special thanks this episode:
Old Rock House Holiness Church
Bro. Billy Summerford
Dave Garrett
Morgan "Willy Mo" Hammond
"Preach the Word, Preacher Man!"
Alabama Astronaut
09/14/22 • 54 min
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:
Special thanks this episode goes to:
Jimmy and Pam Morrow
Dr. Thomas Ryba
Barbara Gibbs Allen
"Jesus On My Mind"
Alabama Astronaut
09/14/22 • 63 min
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:
Special thanks this episode:
American Folklife Center, Library of Congress: Aunt Molly Jackson speaking on serpent handlers
Tony Feyer
Andrew and Taylor Hamblin
Gregory and Cody Coots
Elizabeth "Fish" Gibbs
Cathy Partridge
"Jesus Made the World"
Alabama Astronaut
09/14/22 • 57 min
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:
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
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does Alabama Astronaut have?
Alabama Astronaut currently has 13 episodes available.
What topics does Alabama Astronaut cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, Music, Music History, Documentary and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on Alabama Astronaut?
The episode title 'Foreword' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Alabama Astronaut?
The average episode length on Alabama Astronaut is 40 minutes.
When was the first episode of Alabama Astronaut?
The first episode of Alabama Astronaut was released on Sep 14, 2022.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ