Concert Review: Abe Partridge (Wake Forest Listening Room)

BY MARK DOLEJS

Abe Partridge. I’m not really sure where to even start. On Friday night, Abe Partridge made a stop at the Wake Forest Listening Room. For those that made it out, prior to the start of the pouring rain, the evening was quite special.

Partridge is a multitalented artist. His music takes one by surprise and his cleverly threaded lyrics paint pictures in your mind as if they were on canvas in front of your eyes.

His topics are all over the place, from self-evaluation, family, love, aliens, and religion. And one of his more recent songs, that has helped to attribute to his popularity, is called “Talking, Never Stare into the Eyes of a Chicken Blues.”

In addition to his music, he is also an accomplished folk artist, having his artwork on display in well-known galleries across the Southeast and also in many private collections.

This singer-songwriter has not always been the musical magic man that he is now. He spent four years attending four different Bible colleges before getting his degree, and then pastored an independent fundamental Baptist Church in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, at the age of 25.

After sinking into a hole of depression, Partridge left the church and moved back to Alabama with his wife and two children. He joined the Air Force, where he still serves as an active reservist.

I stumbled upon Partridge’s music on social media, sometime last year. I figure listening to John Prine, Jesse Welles, and others, I probably tripped the algorithm that led him to me. And boy am I glad the interweb gods connected us.

Partridge spent a lot of time during his set, telling stories, mostly related to the songs he was about to sing. His genuineness comes through loud and clear as he shares his life experiences with anyone willing to listen.

One that stuck with me was the story of his granddad. He explained that he never got to know him, as he died before he was born. After Partridge served in Iraq, his mother gave his his granddad’s metal canteen that he carried during World War II and the Battle of the Bulge. His granddad carved his initials and hometown into that canteen, leading Partridge to write a song about him called “JJP From Elba ALA.”

At the end of the night, I felt like we were old friends. His struggles with religion, depression, and living in this crazy world are common themes for many of us, and I can identify with him on many levels. His music and artistry are genius, even if it took him a while to get that part of his life figured out.

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MARK DOLEJS

Photography is an avenue that Mark Dolejs uses to learn about the people and places that cross his path. After more than 30 years as a photojournalist, Mark enjoys concert, macro, and roadside photography. Follow Mark on Instagram at @solidrockpix.

Read Mark's posts here.