Alabama Astronaut

This was a live show recorded at the Alabama Contemporary Art Center on January 21, 2023. It features a tearful Abe Partridge, introduced by curator Elizabeth Elliott, narrator Elizabeth Gibbs, and host Ferrill Gibbs. Abe describes his experience of finding Jamie Coots in Middlesboro, Kentucky, and all the wonders to follow. Also in this episode: the first live performance of “Carson Springs,” a song Abe wrote that referenced preacher Jimmy Morrow. Pastor Morrow passed away two days after this recording.

Abe shares the podcast with his subjects, and one sends him back a humbling text.

In the spirit of John and Alan Lomax, Abe Partridge embarks upon a quest to capture the undocumented songs of the serpent handlers.

Abe continues to visit the churches of Bro. Jimmy Morrow and Andrew Hamblin. At Jimmy Morrow's church, Abe and his wife Cathy sing at a church service. Andrew Hamblin is invited by Abe to Nashville, to accompany Abe on a song.

Ferrill arranges a meeting with Abe and "Salvation on Sand Mountain" author Dennis Covington, in Lubbock, Texas. Abe composes questions for Dennis Covington, not least of which is: "Did you apologize to the congregation of Old Rockhouse Holiness Church? And if so, why?"

Abe and Ferrill meet a New Yorker named Tony Feyer, an artist whose history intertwines with the most legendary serpent-handling church of all time: Church of the Lord Jesus in Jolo, West Virginia. Tony surprises Ferrill and Abe with bombshell information: legendary music documentarian Alan Lomax knew about the powerful serpent-handling music.

Abe and host Ferrill Gibbs meet in person in Birmingham, Alabama, to transport a load of recording equipment to Middlesboro, Kentucky, where they will make a studio album of Cody and Cassy Coots singing songs of their faith.

Abe visits the home of Pastor Jimmy Morrow, in Cocke County, Tennessee, to learn about serpent handling, and to ask Jimmy and his wife Pam if they might sing songs into his handheld recorder.

Abe visits legendary serpent-handling church "Old Rockhouse Holiness" in Section, Alabama – a church that once inspired author Dennis Covington to write a popular book, Salvation on Sand Mountain.

Abe visits the home of fourth-generation serpent handler Cody Coots, along with Cody's wife, Cassy, to capture generations-old songs from the duo's live performances on his Sony handheld recorder.