By Tom “Doc” Leytham
In the words of baseball legend, Buck O’Neill, “I heard this sound. It was a thrill for me. I said, ‘Here it is again’.” O’Neill was referring to the sound of Bo Jackson hitting a baseball in Kansas City, how it was a sound he had not heard since the days of Josh Gibson and Babe Ruth. Those words describe how I felt upon hearing the Red Clay Strays sophomore album, Made by These Moments.
Growing up during the 1970s in the Deep South, was a great place to come of age thanks to the southern belles wearing bell bottoms and home-grown entertainment acts like The Allman Brothers, ZZ Top, Tom Petty, Jimmy Buffett, Wet Willie, Marshall Tucker, Charlie Daniels, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The musicians of this era had a similar bluesy, rustic vibe, but they somehow all managed to sound unique.
That 1970s sound had a profound influence on my musical tastes. In 2018, while searching for sounds reminiscent of that era, I took some friends to a concert in Mobile, Alabama. During the earlier part of the show, my companions sought me out to tell me how great the band was and I had to explain to them that the band playing was not the headliner, but rather the opening act, The Red Clay Strays, from our local area.
The Red Clay Strays latest album, Made by the Moments (released by RCA on July 26) is presently climbing the charts.
The Red Clay Strays made quite an impression, as they have done many times since. On July 26, the “Strays” released their follow-up to the 2022 self-released album, Moment of Truth. Their latest album Made by These Moments, released by RCA, includes 11 original songs, songs that celebrate all the incredible moments that have defined the band’s fast-rising success.
On their latest album, the band has the production gravitas of the great bands of the past – not to mention new and improved soulful renditions and heartfelt storytelling. Grammy award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell) has skillfully guided Brandon Coleman (lead vocals, guitar), Drew Nix (electric guitar, vocals, harmonica), Zach Rishel (electric guitar), Andrew Bishop (bass), and John Hall (drums) to new heights. The eleven tracks are written in large part by lead singer Brandon Coleman’s brother Matthew, as well as Brandon himself, guitar player Drew Nix, Dakota Coleman, Anderson East, Dave Cobb, and some credited to the entire band.
Made by These Moments covers the full spectrum of Southern rock, country rock, or whatever it is you want to call it. I prefer my own term: G.R.A.F.F.I.C. Blues (Gospel, Rockabilly, Americana, Folk, Funk, Indie, Country, and Blues). The album is as spiritual as a small-town revival and is as much of a talent showcase as a toe-tapping Muscle Shoals jam session.
I have not been so moved with emotion while listening to one album from start to finish since Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever. It is as if the era of vinyl was resurrected just for the release of an album as refreshingly good as Made by These Moments.
The Red Clay Strays (photos by Stephen “Andy” Anderson)
The “Strays” have knocked it out of the park with their latest album. 2024 has been a huge year for the band from Mobile, Alabama, with an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, a song on the soundtrack to the hit movie Twisters, and the widely-praised sophomore studio album. The Red Clay Strays head to Europe this month for several concert dates and will perform at three sold-out shows at The Ryman Auditorium in September. There is no stopping The Red Clay Strays!
Track List to latest album:
1. “Disaster” (M. Coleman)
2. “Wasting” Time (D. Nix, B. Coleman)
3. “Wanna Be Loved” (D. Coleman, M. Coleman)
4. “No One Else Like Me” (B. Coleman, M. Coleman)
5. “Ramblin’” (The Red Clay Stray, D. Cobb)
6. “Drowning” (D. Nix)
7. “Devil In My Ear” (D. Nix)
8. “I’m Still Fine” (M. Coleman)
9. “On My Knees” (The Red Clay Stray, D. Cobb)
10. “Moments” (M. Coleman, B. Coleman, D. Nix, Anderson East)
11. “God Does” (D. Nix)
An early photo often used by the band. (Photo by Stephen “Andy” Anderson)
Related Articles:
● The Red Clay Strays: The Southland Music Line’s 2020 Music Artist of the Year
● The Red Clay Strays’ Moment of Truth – An Album Review by Tom “Doc” Leytham
● A Pair of Delcos by The Dashboard Light by Tom “Doc” Leytham
About the writer: Tom “Doc” Leytham has previously contributed the articles “A Pair of Delcos by The Dashboard Light” (2021) and The Red Clay Strays’ Moment of Truth – An Album Review (2022) to The Southland Music Line. He is a physician in Mobile, AL and an accomplished singer-songwriter. He is one of The Red Clay Strays’ most loyal fans and has been following them since they arrived on the scene.
Photos by Stephen “Andy” Anderson; Page edited by Johnny Cole and Deborah Chatham.
