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 stay 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 great distance from their hometown of Cellular, Ala., they usually’ve grown means up from their roots as a canopy band.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “DISASTER”)
THE RED CLAY STRAYS: (Singing) So what do you need to say about saints? They’re no higher than those they are saying the world taints. Should you’re in search of a prophet, I will let you know I ain’t.
ELLIOTT: The primary monitor on the Crimson Clay Strays’ new album is a haunting callback to basic outlaw nation with a rock ‘n’ roll edge. It is referred to 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 – properly, he is as energetic as you’d assume a drummer must be. They joined us, as you’ll be able to in all probability hear, from their tour bus. It is an improve from the outdated Ford they used to drive themselves, which they named the Breeze.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 upsetting for me. You have been speaking about the way it’s virtually extra exhausting not having the Breeze to work on.
BRANDON COLEMAN: Yeah, after we – it is like, after we have been driving ourselves on our little bus, there was no time to relaxation or chill out, you recognize. 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 have been all the time on edge, you recognize, hoping we do not break down. And now we’re on the tour bus, and we are able to chill out a bit bit. And type of simply get drained extra, I suppose. I am not even positive if that is actually how it’s, but it surely does appear a bit extra tiring lately.
HALL: Yeah, we’re lazy. We are able to afford to be lazy now, I suppose. I do not know.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “RAMBLIN'”)
THE RED CLAY STRAYS: (Singing) Properly, I used to be born to ramble. I carry on rambling on.
ELLIOTT: Should you hearken to this album, this has, like, a southern rock sound. There’s clearly some outlaw nation there. There’s some soul, a bit 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 type of occurred.
COLEMAN: Yeah, we undoubtedly did not determine it. It is a – we simply – we have been taking part in collectively for, you recognize, seven or eight years now.
HALL: We’re simply all jamming attempting to not get fired (laughter).
ELLIOTT: Properly, as enjoyable as a few of this music is, I’d say there’s additionally some actual ache in among the songs right here, and undoubtedly some craving, as properly. I am pondering of the music “Wanna Be Beloved.”
(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 desires the identical outdated factor – inform me, what’s going to it convey? My good friend, I am bored with being this manner. I am bored with working astray. Oh, God, I must know you are still above. I simply wish to be beloved.
COLEMAN: My littlest brother Dakota wrote that music. I believe on the time he had gone by way 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 traces 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 discuss a bit bit in regards to the music drowning that is on this file. I consider 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 placing music.
COLEMAN: We have been all working aspect jobs throughout COVID. Me and Drew particularly have been driving for Uber, and, you recognize, we have been attempting to earn money 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 automotive driving for Uber.
HALL: Yeah, I believe that he was filling up his gasoline tank along with his final, like – I do not know – 50 bucks that he had simply made to attempt to go make 50 extra {dollars}, you recognize? After which he was going dwelling at evening to his spouse, Laurie Ann (ph), and was simply feeling actually unhealthy about not having the ability to do what he thought was his justifiable share.
(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 among the songs like that, you additionally hear a variety of hope on this file.
HALL: Religion, too.
ELLIOTT: The file actually takes us on this journey from darkish into the sunshine. Particularly, whenever you get to that music “On My Knees,” I virtually felt like I used to be, you recognize, again in church as a child.
HALL: Oh, yeah. That one will make you place your fingers up for positive.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ON MY KNEES”)
THE RED CLAY STRAYS: (Singing) I will raise my fingers in his firm. For you recognize, I’m grateful for what he has executed for me…
ELLIOTT: How massive of a job does faith play in your lives now that you simply’re out on the highway on a regular basis?
HALL: I imply, I discuss with God each day, you recognize? Simply praying and taking part in.
COLEMAN: All people wonders why they’re right here. You realize, 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 goal, as soon as you determine what that goal is, then you are going to work in direction of that each day. And it’s a battle each day.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ON MY KNEES”)
THE RED CLAY STRAYS: (Singing) I will raise my fingers in his firm. For you recognize, I’m grateful for what he has executed for me…
ELLIOTT: This album known as “Made By These Moments.” I am curious – if life is sort of a home, what moments are your foundations?
HALL: Taking part in with my dad and being round my brothers and stuff, rising up with them. You realize, that made me who I’m now, you recognize, studying how one can be round them and with them and loving them and every thing.
COLEMAN: Yeah, simply, you recognize, rising up with my brothers and being round household and going to church with my grandmother and taking part in in church and the countless 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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