Dealing The Mobile Sound

Grayson Capps: A Bowl of Fresh Water and A Thorn in The Side

Eric joins singer-songwriter and Mobile music icon Grayson Capps. Grayson traces his path from studying theater at Tulane to fronting bands in New Orleans, landing a record deal at 21, and eventually making the leap to full-time musician after teaching John Travolta songs for the film *A Love Song for Bobby Long — all while landscaping or running a jackhammer during the day. Grayson talks about the Frog Pond Sunday Social he built with Cathe Steele, the post-Katrina energy that started Hangover Sundays at Callahan's, and why he values harmony over competition. Grayson also shares his philosophy on music: a live audience is "the biggest bullshit meter in the entire world," and “the most beautiful things in life aren't marketable.” He explains what it means when a song creates that rare moment where "there's no you or me, there's a we." Grayson also performs one of the favorite songs he’s written, The Junkman.

Ryan Balthrop: Leaving Songs Open for Interpretation

On this episode of Dealing the Mobile Sound, host Eric Erdman sits down with singer-songwriter Ryan Balthrop, whose music blends island rhythms with ’70s acoustic and Gulf Coast Soul. Ryan tells about his first gig at the Sundowner in 1994, the early days of his band Slow Moses, and coming up in the early years of the Mobile music scene. He shares stories of chasing music to St. John in the Virgin Islands, the unexpected turns that kept him there, and how those years shaped his sound today.  He also opens up about songwriting–leaving open space for interpretation and making a song universal. A moment in Mexico sparks the story behind his new song “Sell Out,” and there’s a live performance of “Blow This Dust Away.”

Johnny Hayes: Appreciating the Sun and Rain in Mobile

On this episode of Dealing the Mobile Sound, host Eric Erdman sits down with singer-songwriter Johnny Hayes.  Johnny traces the moment he first “anted up” in music—from nervously asking to play a few songs during a bar break in Tuscaloosa to landing his first gig (it paid $50). Johnny shares stories from Nashville, writer’s rounds, and a moment when a song didn’t land the way he expected. He also plays “The Rain in Mobile” and reflects on his relationship with the community that has stayed with him through the highs and lows. In a city where the rain comes often, he says, you learn to appreciate the sunshine—and to trust that the hard seasons pass. That balance is what makes Mobile beautiful, and what inspired him to finally write a song about home.

Molly Thomas: Composing Without A Map

On this episode of Dealing the Mobile Sound, host Eric Erdman sits down with singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Molly Thomas. Molly talks about gigging in high school in a jazz quartet—learning to improvise and get paid—then moving through orchestra work, folk bands, and rock and roll. She played in one of Mobile’s favorite bands, Slow Moses, before heading to Nashville in search of bigger opportunities. She reflects on how the Mobile music scene has evolved and how her new album, Tumble Home, came together—writing songs with Ken Rose on a porch overlooking Mobile Bay, recording at home, and building lush string arrangements by ear, one instrument at a time. Molly also shares stories of touring with her close friend Todd Snider, who passed away shortly after this conversation was recorded. She performs “Sorry,” and talks about following each song wherever it leads.

Phill Proctor and Stan Foster: The Godfathers of Mobile Music

On this episode of Dealing the Mobile Sound, host Eric Erdman sits down with Phil Proctor and Stan Foster — a duo whose music is at the heart of Callaghan’s Irish Social Club. Phil was the first musician to ever play Callaghan’s, starting out solo before years with Dog River Boys, Deluxe Trio, and ultimately Phil and Foster. Stan moved to Mobile in 2005 from Birmingham, where he played in regional favorites Telluride and Rolling in the Hay. Introduced by local musician Ben Jernigan, the two teamed up and have anchored Wednesday nights at Callaghan’s for more than eleven years. Blending bluegrass roots with improvisation and jam-band freedom, Phil and Stan push toward original songs. Phil shares how they built a crowd that came expecting something new, and Stan talks about how being forced into bass solos made him a better musician–he once joined a band before he even owned a bass. In this episode, Phil and Foster debut their new song, “Lounging,” and reflect on how they’ve helped shape the Mobile sound — one Wednesday night at a time.