Scott Padden

Scott Griffin Padden is no stranger to the road—he’s spent the last three years touring the country as a bassist with folk-Americana band, Goodnight, Texas—but that hasn’t stopped him from putting roots down in the San Francisco music universe. A native of Lansing, Michigan, he relocated to the Bay Area in 2011 to perform as a classical musician, but found his path taking a left turn when he reconnected with high school friend Ross James, and was offered an opportunity to perform regularly at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael. It was there that he had the chance to hone his skills as a bassist, guitarist, drummer, vocalist, and keyboardist, culminating with a world tour in 2014 on keys with Phil Lesh and the Terrapin Family Band.

Since then, Padden has focused his attention on Goodnight, Texas, recording on their 2014 release, Uncle John Farquahr. The band had a calendar year touring in 2015, logging nearly 30,000 miles on the road on 5 separate tours. Highlights include a performance on NPR’s Mountain Stage radio broadcast, a sold-out headlining show on at the Black Cat in Washington D.C., Stubbs BBQ in Austin supporting The Family Crest, and a California tour with Two Gallants, featuring a stop at the Fillmore in San Francisco. The band’s yet-to-be-named third record is due out later this year.

In the intervening weeks when he’s not trekking around the U.S., Padden spends his time creating his own music with friends and playing solo shows. While his strongest influences are obvious—Paul Westerberg, Ryan Adams, and The Anniversary come to mind—he also draws heavily on the juggernauts of an older era, most notably the Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys. He is still an active classical musician, and is a founding member of the San Francisco based chamber orchestra collective, One Found Sound.