NPR’s Debbie Elliott talks with lead singer Brandon Coleman and drummer John Corridor from the Crimson Clay Strays about humble beginnings, touring, and the religion that retains all of it collectively.
JOHN HALL: We dwell in a bus with six different males, they usually will not shut up (laughter).
DEBBIE ELLIOTT, HOST:
The Crimson Clay Strays are on the highway. Final evening, they performed Rexford, Mont., slightly below the border with Canada. That is a good distance from their hometown of Cell, Ala., they usually’ve grown method up from their roots as a canopy band.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “DISASTER”)
THE RED CLAY STRAYS: (Singing) So what do it’s a must to say about saints? They’re no higher than those they are saying the world taints. In case you’re in search of a prophet, I am going to let you know I ain’t.
ELLIOTT: The primary observe on the Crimson Clay Strays’ new album is a haunting callback to traditional outlaw nation with a rock ‘n’ roll edge. It is known as “Catastrophe.” The album, “Made By These Moments,” is something however.
(SOUNDBITE OF RED CLAY STRAYS SONG, “DISASTER”)
ELLIOTT: Lead singer Brandon Coleman is extra soft-spoken than you would possibly count on for a frontman. John Corridor – effectively, he is as energetic as you’d assume a drummer ought to be. They joined us, as you’ll be able to most likely hear, from their tour bus. It is an improve from the previous Ford they used to drive themselves, which they named the Breeze.
(SOUNDBITE OF RED CLAY STRAYS’ SONG “RAMBLIN'”)
HALL: Brandon, you stated one thing yesterday that was depraved thought scary for me. You had been speaking about the way it’s nearly extra exhausting not having the Breeze to work on.
BRANDON COLEMAN: Yeah, after we – it is like, after we had been driving ourselves on our little bus, there was no time to relaxation or loosen up, you realize. We’d play the present after which pack up and begin driving and fall asleep and get up and begin driving once more to the subsequent place, and we had been all the time on edge, you realize, hoping we do not break down. And now we’re on the tour bus, and we will loosen up slightly bit. And form of simply get drained extra, I suppose. I am not even certain if that is actually how it’s, nevertheless it does appear slightly extra tiring as of late.
HALL: Yeah, we’re lazy. We will afford to be lazy now, I suppose. I do not know.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “RAMBLIN'”)
THE RED CLAY STRAYS: (Singing) Effectively, I used to be born to ramble. I carry on rambling on.
ELLIOTT: In case you take heed to this album, this has, like, a southern rock sound. There’s clearly some outlaw nation there. There’s some soul, slightly rockability (ph). The place did all of this come from? What was the start of the way you guys got here collectively and determined this was going to be the sound of the Crimson Clay Strays?
HALL: I believe it simply form of occurred.
COLEMAN: Yeah, we undoubtedly did not determine it. It is a – we simply – we have been enjoying collectively for, you realize, seven or eight years now.
HALL: We’re simply all jamming attempting to not get fired (laughter).
ELLIOTT: Effectively, as enjoyable as a few of this music is, I might say there’s additionally some actual ache in a number of the songs right here, and undoubtedly some craving, as effectively. I am pondering of the music “Wanna Be Liked.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WANNA BE LOVED”)
THE RED CLAY STRAYS: (Singing) All people’s ready for a break, like quick vehicles and freedom. All people needs the identical previous factor – inform me, what is going to it carry? My buddy, I am bored with being this manner. I am bored with operating astray. Oh, God, I must know you are still above. I simply wish to be liked.
COLEMAN: My littlest brother Dakota wrote that music. I believe on the time he had gone by means of a breakup. And he had written that and despatched it to my different brother, Matthew – that was a poem, after which Matthew added a number of strains and give you the melody, simply to see the way it connects and resonates with all people is de facto cool.
ELLIOTT: I wish to speak slightly bit in regards to the music drowning that is on this report. I imagine your guitarist Drew Nix wrote this one.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “DROWNING”)
THE RED CLAY STRAYS: (Singing) It is like I am going overboard with an anchor ‘spherical my waist. I lie awake at evening with tears in my eyes, my coronary heart beating out of my chest. There is not any mild on the finish of this tunnel I am in. I am callin’ for an SOS. Any individual assist me. I am drowning. I can not tread for much longer…
ELLIOTT: It is a putting music.
COLEMAN: We had been all working facet jobs throughout COVID. Me and Drew particularly had been driving for Uber, and, you realize, we had been attempting to make cash and pay payments, and get a life began and get married and every thing else. And that is when he wrote that music. He was in his automobile driving for Uber.
HALL: Yeah, I believe that he was filling up his fuel tank together with his final, like – I do not know – 50 bucks that he had simply made to try to go make 50 extra {dollars}, you realize? After which he was going house at evening to his spouse, Laurie Ann (ph), and was simply feeling actually dangerous about not with the ability to do what he thought was his fair proportion.
(SOUNBITE OF SONG, “DROWNING”)
THE RED CLAY STRAYS: (Singing) However they’re all simply shadеs of grey. And it is solely getting duller…
ELLIOTT: So regardless of the darkness of a number of the songs like that, you additionally hear a whole lot of hope on this report.
HALL: Religion, too.
ELLIOTT: The report actually takes us on this journey from darkish into the sunshine. Specifically, once you get to that music “On My Knees,” I nearly felt like I used to be, you realize, again in church as a child.
HALL: Oh, yeah. That one will make you place your palms up for certain.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ON MY KNEES”)
THE RED CLAY STRAYS: (Singing) I am going to elevate my palms in his firm. For you realize, I’m grateful for what he has performed for me…
ELLIOTT: How huge of a job does faith play in your lives now that you just’re out on the highway on a regular basis?
HALL: I imply, I speak with God day by day, you realize? Simply praying and enjoying.
COLEMAN: All people wonders why they’re right here. , All people wonders, what is the which means of all this? And when your reply to that query is God, and also you understand {that a} God who created every thing created you, and he put you right here with a job to do and he put you right here with a function, as soon as you determine what that function is, then you are going to work in the direction of that day by day. And it’s a battle day by day.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ON MY KNEES”)
THE RED CLAY STRAYS: (Singing) I am going to elevate my palms in his firm. For you realize, I’m grateful for what he has performed for me…
ELLIOTT: This album is named “Made By These Moments.” I am curious – if life is sort of a home, what moments are your foundations?
HALL: Enjoying with my dad and being round my brothers and stuff, rising up with them. , that made me who I’m now, you realize, studying the right way to be round them and with them and loving them and every thing.
COLEMAN: Yeah, simply, you realize, rising up with my brothers and being round household and going to church with my grandmother and enjoying in church and the limitless nights of bar gigs – all that, all that is moments of my basis.
ELLIOTT: Singer Brandon Coleman and drummer John Corridor, members of the Crimson Clay Strays. Thanks for making time to speak with us.
COLEMAN: Yeah, thanks guys.
HALL: Thanks for having us.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “MOMENTS”)
THE RED CLAY STRAYS: (Singing) There’s joys and trials as you stroll down each mile. I have been…
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