Red Clay Strays: Moment of Truth
Photo by Macie Bowden
When the Red Clay Strays posted a question on social media a few months ago asking fans what they would call the type of music the band plays, they got a lot of different responses. One that caught my attention was “Southern Soul.” I deplore putting labels on music but I also understand the need to point listeners in a direction so they don’t get lost, and this was an excellent description of what the Strays do best. Centered around the vocals of Brandon Coleman, the band often is laying down a groove or pumping out a cushion for his soulful vocals to ride. Their first full-length record, Moment of Truth (releasing on April 29th), mines that soulful vein deeply. Anticipation for this release has been building for a good while.
Coleman, along with rest of the Red Clay Strays, Drew Nix (vocals/electric guitar/harmonica), Zach Rishel (electric guitar), Andrew Bishop (bass), and John Hall (drums) have been working relentlessly along the Gulf Coast states for the past five years and have finally been able to play some of the larger gigs and festivals that had been scheduled before the pandemic shut down the music world. Fans who have seen their high-energy show may be surprised at the low-key feel of Moment of Truth. RCS has chosen to showcase Brandon’s vocals throughout the first half of the record. Coleman has the looks and the on-stage demeanor of a rockstar but it’s his voice that always steals the show. It is a beautiful instrument and put on display here over the course of the first six tracks. Whether it’s a bass-powered groove like “Stones Throw,” a syncopated percussion beat like “Do Me Wrong,” or a layer of guitar chords like “Heavy Heart,” Brandon’s voice simply soars with passion.
The tempo changes with ”Ghosts,” as the Strays kick into rock n roll gear and begin to make a little noise. They go all-in on “She’s No Good” which is as good a rocker as anything they’ve ever done on stage, capturing their vintage sound to perfection. When RCS gets to rockin’ it’s in the classic “it’s got a backbeat, you can’t lose it” style, as opposed to screaming guitars and pyrotechnics. Remember, down deep this is a soul band. That soul also shines on “Don’t Care” before the record slams to a stop and demands your attention for “Killers.” The plight of homeless veterans is examined in such a way that almost makes you cry. It’s a very poignant song and deserves special attention. One more dose of sweet soul with “Sunshine” before the record closes with another shot of rock n roll in the form of “Doin Time 2.”
Moment of Truth stands as a document of what the Red Clay Strays have done up to this point in their career. It shows a band that is confident in their ability to rock with anybody and put on a great show, but is also unafraid to slow things down and show some emotion with some genuine music that is good for the soul.
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