An All-Star Night in Mobile featuring Red Padilla & Friends
An Article by Johnny Cole
Photos by Stephen Anderson
When several talented musicians and performers come together to celebrate the release of a friend’s and peer’s latest music, it’s a special thing to behold. On the evening of Saturday, April 20, 2019, one such occasion, the “Soul Mexican Single Release Party with Red & the Revelers and Guests”, took place at Cedar Street Social Club, the popular Mobile, Alabama music venue.
Some of the area’s favorite musicians came together to showcase Mobile’s growing and thriving music scene. Local musician, Lizz Hough, likened the eclectic mixture of music to a “gumbo” of styles and sounds of the region. Though I had used that term before, it sounded much better coming from a musician who has performed music with a number of Mobile’s best, but was there on this night to celebrate the music. The event, sponsored by CannaBama: The CBD Store and emceed by radio personality Zew Tony from FM 92.1 WZEW, began a few minutes after 7 p.m. and continued for the next 3 1/2 hours with non-stop music.
The event opened with The OutLawz Brass Band, an 8-man high octane brass ensemble that showed us how to get a party started. As the Cedar Street Social Club began to fill, the guys performed a half dozen numbers, which set the mood for the entire evening. From the beginning, it quickly became apparent that this was going to be a fun night.
Top Photo: Zew Tony from FM 92.1 WZEW with Red Padilla & Zach Rishel; Above Photo: Symone French
Symone French, wearing a cool Blondie T-shirt underneath her leather jacket, joined by her band Trouille Troupe, followed with one very memorable set that kept the evening moving along with a steady pace of excitement. Symone, a natural on stage with an authenticity that deserves attention abroad, is backed by a band that obviously knows the meaning and spirit of rock & roll. Along with Symone were Frankie Crawford (lead guitar), Tre Norman (rhythym guitar), Christian Heiden (bass) Justin Skinner (drums) and joined on this particular evening for a few songs by the Dixie Gentlemens’ Jacob Hall on keys. Personally, I can’t say enough about this young lady and this incredible band. My advice is when you see Symone French & the Trouille Troupe are performing somewhere – go inside, purchase ticket, see, hear and enjoy.
Above photo: Brandon Coleman of The Red Clay Strays
As the evening continued, one of Mobile’s most loved and busiest bands, The Red Clay Strays, took to the stage. Surprisingly and due to my traveling schedule, it had been awhile since I had attended a Red Clay Strays’ show, but I have observed from afar their career’s promising rise to new heights. Brandon Coleman (lead vocals), Zach Rishel (lead guitar), John Hall (drums), Andrew Bishop (bass) and Drew Nix (backup vocals/rhythym guitar) are the “real deal” and Saturday night’s set, consisting of several originals, was enjoyed by everyone in attendence. They always leave you wanting more.
In the 1980’s, I had the honor of meeting and getting to know Hilly Krystal, founder and owner of the legendary CBGB in New York City. Hilly would have loved what came next at Cedar Street and likely booked the band on the spot. On this night, Abe Partridge and the Psychedelic Peacocks (aka Psych Peas) brought their original punk rock tunes to the house. Mobile’s Abe Partridge, a rising star on the world scene and The Southland Music Line’s 2018 Music Artist of the Year, has several alternate universes and depending on which one you are privileged to witness, you will always be in for a surprise. Mostly known for his unique blend of singer-songwriter folk music and original artwork, Abe, joined by his “Psych Peas” partner in crime, Dave Garrett on lead guitar, were accompanied by John Hall (Red Clay Strays) on drums and Andrew Bishop (Red Clay Strays) on bass. The wild set had everyone pressed up against the stage hoping to get glimpse of what was to come next – the Cedar Street crowd loved it and so did I.
Abe Partridge & The Psychedelic Peacocks “Psych Peas” from left: Dave Garrett, John Hall, Abe Partridge & Andrew Bishop
And to think, the evening wasn’t even over! It was time for Red & The Revelers, the featured artist of the evening, to close out the show. Greg “Red” Padilla was joined on stage by a large, incredible group of musician friends to celebrate the release of the new single “Rainy Day Suggestion”.
Red was recently featured in the Stephen Centanni article “Red & The Revelers Showcase a Revolving Lineup of Local Musicians” in the Lagniappe, a Mobile, Alabama independent weekly newspaper. Centanni details several enlightening things about Red and his music.
I first met Red in 2018 at The Listening Room of Mobile. When I heard him sing, I was totally impressed with his strong vocals and the likeability factor that he clearly possesses. Since then, I have had a number of opportunities to see him and hear those big vocals, including when he sat in with Phil Proctor and Stan Foster at Callaghan’s in Mobile and a solo performance at The Greenhouse on Porter in Ocean Springs, MS.
Padilla’s soul-inspired approach to each song, often channeling such greats as Jackie Wilson and Otis Redding, consistently stands out during each performance. Whether it be one of his originals such as “Rainy Day Suggestion”, “Heaven Cried For Oklahoma” and “Let’s Go Slow” or covering a wide range of tunes such as Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie” or Otis Redding’s “These Arms of Mine”, Padilla gives them his all. On this particular evening at Cedar Street, he put his all into his version of Radiohead’s “Creep”.
Red & The Revelers at the Cedar Street Social Club in Mobile, AL
Red & the Revelers’ bio calls their music a “mixture of Americana and Deep South Soul” – true, but it is also unmistakably and undeniably “Red”, a world unto its own.
Red’s band of Revelers at the Cedar Street show featured a who’s who of the local music scene including two Red Clay Strays, John Hall (drums) and Zach Rishel (lead guitar), Troy Cooper (bass), The OutLawz Brass Band’s Alvin King, Blake Nolte (sax), Jef Funk (harmonica), Colin Beasley (aux. percussion), Sergio & Satin Dogs’ Chris Miller (aux. percussion), Ross Graham (upright bass), The Dixie Gentlemen’s Jacob Hall (keys), and Erin Craig (backup vocals).
Later this year on August 10, Red & The Revelers will be releasing their new album “The Wizard and The Witch”, but until then, the single “Rainy Day Suggestion” can be found at all the usual download sites.
This Saturday night show at the Cedar Street Social Club was a lot of fun and the perfect opportunity to enjoy a sampling of the music Mobile, Alabama has to offer. The Southland Music Line thanks Red for the invite – it was most appreciated and enjoyed.
Click the following link for photos of this event.
Links:
▪ Click Here for Red & the Revelers official website.
▪ Click Here for Abe Partridge’s official website.
▪ Click Here for the Red Clay Strays official website.
▪ Click Here for Symone French’s official website.
▪ Click Here for the OutLawz Brass Band’s official website.
▪ Click Here for Cedar Street Social Club’s official website.
▪ Click Here to for 92.1 WZEW’s official website.
▪ Click Here to Subscribe to the Lagniappe.
Red Padilla
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Page Designed & Edited by Johnny Cole
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