“I have seven bars and I am in the process of opening an 8th in Saraland. I love bars and restaurants and opening them up. I have great people who work for me and couldn’t do this without them. I started out at the Bakery Cafe as a bus boy in ’93 and became a bartender and the manager. I bartended at Hayley’s and Southside while I was in school at South. I opened a restaurant in Fairhope called 14 South. My father was a musician and I was always around music and loved it, so I bought Monsoons in downtown Mobile in ’97 or ’98. There are people who remember Monsoon’s who shouldn’t be old enough to remember it. I was 23 and bought it for 20 grand. We were all young. I booked music and learned how to call agents and there were no contracts. It was the time before cell phones and I would leave schedules on answering machine every week and tried to be funny. Drivin’ N Cryin’ played the first night I took ownership. The most money I lost in one week started with Derek Trucks on a Friday night in April. I had a $3,000 guarantee with him. The lead singer blew his voice out on the soundcheck interview with the Zew. Derek and Susan were dating and she got her guitar off the bus and played with him. There were about 100 of us there that night who couldn’t believe what we were hearing. The following Wednesday, I had Leftover Salmon with a $5,000 guarantee. There were only 30 people there but the band played until 4 in the morning. They were so good. Two of the guys came back to my house and played the rest of the night. We had Sister Hazel a couple of times. The last time they played, the bathroom flooded out. That happened more than once. We never could fix that. It said a lot about people’s love for music when they would stand in it. It would come out of the bathroom and no one would leave. There was doo-doo on the floor and you couldn’t wedge another body in that place. Unbelievable. So much time has passed. Every time I walk past the building I think, ‘Did I dream that?’ But I see the green walls and checkered floors and I am pretty sure that happened. Incubus played there. There was the Pied Pirates tour with Edwin McCain, Kevin McKinney and Gibb Droll. Three of them with acoustic guitars and swapping songs. Edwin and I had some fun. He is sober now. That is good for all of us.”
“I am in a bar every day. I used to say that when I was in college I tried to figure out how to stay in bars and listen to bands all day and no one gets on your back about it. I figured it out, I’ve got to own the bar. My dad calls and asks if I am at the bar again. Yes, I am, but I am working. That is the truth. Work, work, work. But somebody has got to do it. We are having more ‘One More Days,’ extra Mardi Gras days during the year in Mobile. The pole vaulting competition is one of my favorites. I pull the table out about 9 a.m. and start drinking beer. About 4 beers in, I think I can do it. I get enough liquid courage and think I can do anything. By the end of the day, I have assured myself that I can do it and have taken standing bets. We could sell tickets to watch Noell pole vault. We wouldn’t need a high bar. It can’t be that hard, even if I would end up on top of the Saenger, pass out and be up there for two days. I can’t drink beer and bounce back like I used to. I have to pick and choose my battles.”
One of the best!
Saw you the other night at the Soul Kitchen, paw paw’s med and some other awesome band. Tom Lightcap introduced us when we worked at SouthTrust bank. Too loud to talk. Best of luck. May the Lord continue to walk with you.
Grateful to be able to call him one of my best friends! Congratulations on finding great success in something you love to do, and something we are all jealous we aren’t doing!!! Good cheers and always good music…good times have been had by MANY! Good Luck in all you do, keep the beers flowing and the good times ROLLing! Cheers…Jazzy!
I love you Noell B! I’ve had the best times in my life on all those stages! Especially Monsoons! Also some of the worst times! Ha! I think I actually died there twice! I’m lucky and proud to have been a part of it all! And would do it all again, exactly the same way! See you soon! By the way, there’s only one set of foot prints and no one’s carrying you! Chalk all that up to hard work and Noell B!
Great job
One of be greatest men I know, he has a heart of gold and the determination to do anything. Proud to call him my friend.
Yore the bomb Noell! Keep up the good work!! You’re the reason a lot if hear good bands come to Mobile.
The best times and some of the best memories I have were made in Monsoons! Thanks for that Noell! Love ya buddy!
loved playing that room (and the “sunrise watching parties” after the gig)
I can (and can’t) remember many nights after my shift at Grand heading down to Monsoon’s and having a few shots with my boy Noell and watching great music. Keep going brother! The old downtown crew are proud you have had such success and still got your back.
Legend , plain and simple.
Proud to call him my friend.
So proud of you Noel! You have come a long way and I know it has not always been easy. Wishing you the best in your new adventure. CHEERS!
Wow! So wonderful to read about your success, Noell. Congratulations and best wishes on your future endeavors!
Hope you are doing well.
I remember your days on the Eastern Dhore, too! Marcus and I miss you! Glad to se you are doing well!
*McCrory
*Shore
Edwin McCain and Monsoons. Ah my friend I remember those days all too well. I was checkin into that place before Marty ever cared about IDs :). Love you and what you have built. Great story. Happy to say I was here to watch you accomplish it.
Some of my favorite downtown memories were made at Monsoons. It was the first bar I ever went to and was such a blast! Good music and good times with good friends. Couldn’t beat it.