Red Clay Strays-Devil in my Ear

Red Clay Strays-Devil in my Ear was released a few weeks back and this is the first chance I’ve had to write about it.

I happen to be a big fan of Jensen Ackles’ musical talent. If I’m lucky enough to catch a performance of his, I take full advantage. If he is not singing with Steve Carlson (Ackles and Carlson comprise the band Radio Company), he can often be found sharing his vocal talents with friends and musicians at events he attends throughout Europe and the US. It was at one of these events that Ackles sang the cover of a song called “Wondering Why.”

I immediately fell in love with it. So much so, I had to find out more about it.

This of course, led me directly to the Red Clay Strays.

Even though the Red Clay Strays were formed in Alabama in 2016, they are currently amidst a breakout year, and I had to put pen-to-paper to not only congratulate them on their ever burgeoning (and by all accounts meteoric) popularity and success but also to highlight another song of theirs called “Devil In My Ear.”

My initial listen of this song, combined with the video produced to showcase it, garnered a pretty strong reaction. Had you been a fly on the wall, you would have witnessed this fan irrevocably moved. This track is that powerful.

This song was written by the Strays’ guitarist Drew Nix and it shines a light on mental health issues involving depression, anxiety and self-doubt. Nix has shared that this song resulted from his own struggles to understand why someone, even a person with talent, a loving family and good friends would grapple with the notion that their lives don’t matter. Not only are the lyrics a profound rendering of those raw emotions, but the music video, directed by Matthew Coleman, offers up moving imagery that epitomizes the insidious nature and devastating effects of what can happen when a person’s state of mind begins to spiral.

Not only does this song raise awareness on the prevalence of mental health issues, but it also offers a shimmer of hope. The video ends with a call to action for anyone who finds themselves, or anyone they know, in need of support. A lifeline is out there.

The Red Clay Strays are Brandon Coleman (lead vocals, guitar), Drew Nix (electric guitar, vocals, harmonica), Zach Rishel (electric guitar), Andrew Bishop (bass) and John Hall (drums).

I have only just discovered The Red Clay Strays, but you can be damn sure that this writers’ search through their musical offerings has only just begun. I’m smitten!