Feature Photo by Robby Klein
Story by Kerstie Wolaver
With cowboy hats atop their heads and drinks in hand, a rowdy Wednesday night crowd filled the pews of the Ryman Auditorium to experience a night of boot-stomping, guitar-strumming good old American country rock music.
Mobile, Alabama natives The Red Clay Strays kicked off a three-night run in downtown Nashville with their feverish tune “Ramblin’,” quickly bringing the auditorium to its feet. Dressed in slick pants, button down shirts and at least one pair of snakeskin boots, the six-piece’s suave attire perfectly represented the blend of old-fashioned gospel music and sounds of Southern rock that were to come.
Wednesday’s show marked the first of three Ryman shows for the group, and the band hinted at a release of a live album recorded during the week’s festivities.
“We’re recording tonight. I don’t know if i’m supposed to tell you that,” lead singer Brandon Coleman said.
The ecstatic crowd brought a new kind of energy to the Mother Church, with ear-piercing cheers lasting for minutes at a time. The band received their accolades in the form of repetitive “I love you” chants from the crowd, making it difficult for Coleman to get a sentence in between songs.
“Do we have any veterans in the house tonight?” Coleman asked.
He was met with a multitude of raised hands in the crowd as he introduced their 2023 song “Killers,” which follows the story of a troubled Vietnam veteran.
They continued with a number of songs, often evoking strong emotions in the crowd. Coleman adopted a serious tone to introduce “Devil in My Ear,” a song off their recently released album “Made by These Moments.” He brought to light his own struggles with mental health and explained that the heavy content of the song focused on mental health awareness.
“Mental health, that’s what this next song’s about… And if there’s anyone in the crowd struggling with it tonight, please reach out to somebody… I promise you’re not alone,” Coleman said.
The set concluded with the original gospel song “On My Knees,” which set the audience into a feel-good frenzy. They clapped, twirled and danced with hands raised in the air. But, even after the show-stopping energy from the final song, the band wasn’t finished yet.
After a brief exit, the crowd clapped their hands and stomped their boots on the hardwood in anticipation. Coleman returned to the stage for a solo song before the rest of the band rejoined him for “God Does.”
Guitarist Drew Nix brought his wife Laurie Anne Armour-Nix on stage to sing the deep cut “Bittersweet Memories,” with Coleman quipping that the song was from an era when YouTube was the band’s only method for distributing music and booking gigs.
The night started to wind down with their recently-platinum hit “Wondering Why,” followed by the band receiving their platinum records right on the Ryman stage.
Before ending the show with “Don’t Care” and receiving a wild standing ovation, Coleman credited the audience with the Red Clay Strays’ success in a heartfelt moment:
“You made this possible.”
Kerstie Wolaver is a Reporter for MTSU Sidelines
To contact the Lifestyles Editor, email lifestyles@mtsusidelines.com.
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