Dealing The Mobile Sound

Hosea London: Learning the Excelsior Tradition by Being in the Band

In this episode of Dealing the Mobile Sound, host Eric Erdman sits down with Hosea London–one of Mobile's most respected musicians and cultural leaders. Hosea shares how a band director's decision in elementary school steered him from trombone to trumpet–a choice that shaped the rest of his life. From playing at church teas and fundraisers to studying music in college, Hosea built a foundation as a classically trained trumpet player before discovering a love for jazz while working in Memphis.   Along the way, Hosea taught music at Mississippi Valley State University, worked in music therapy for the State of Alabama, and learned to play everything from trumpet and French horn to keyboards. He reflects on performing with legends like Joe Lewis and E.B. Coleman, mentoring young musicians through his Jazz Studio, and why he still embraces the challenge of classical music.   The conversation also explores the heart of Mobile's musical heritage through the Excelsior Band. Hosea explains why Excelsior is more than a band—it's a living tradition built on listening, instinct, and generations of musicians learning songs by playing them together rather than rehearsing them.

Noell Broughton: The Creator of Good Times

On this episode of Dealing the Mobile Sound, host Eric Erdman sits down with Mobile music venue legend Noell Broughton — the man behind Monsoons, The Brickyard, and some of the most unforgettable nights in Gulf Coast music history. Noell reflects on his first concert — the night his dad’s band opened for KISS. Also the wild BayFest years, and when artists like Herbie Hancock, Incubus, and The Outfield passed through downtown Mobile venues. The conversation traces Noell’s journey from opening 14 South in Fairhope at 23 years old to buying Monsoons in 1997 and helping build a music scene that often played until sunrise. He talks about the lawless chaos and freedom of downtown Mobile in those years, and why he’s always booked bands for one simple reason: “I want to hear the music, so I book the bands.” There are stories about Afroman, Ugli Stick, and the fire that destroyed Monsoons on April 16, 2004 — along with Eric performing his song “Old Friend,” written from the memories of Monsoons.

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.