March 15, 2025
Mobile, Alabama’s The Red Clay Strays find love at Montreal’s Mtelus
The name The Red Clay Strays might not yet be on the tip of all country music lovers tongues just yet, but their assent is rising faster than a Space X rocket right now, and that is largely thanks to a video that went went viral a couple of years back on Tik Tok.
Social media is a strange animal that hardly ever is a true judge – but every once in a while, such platforms turn out true gems that might not have found their audience in any other way. In years past, television shows had that same sort of power. The more things change the more they stay the same.
See Also: Dream Theater at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Montreal
I personally discovered this band while riding in a friends car this past summer – and this friend came to know them because his partner had been playing them after hearing them on the tok. Things move in strange ways. By the time I walked into the Mtelus tonight, I had come to know the band well and had been eagerly awaiting this evening. Doing what I do – I get to see and hear a lot of artists and not all of them stick with you the way these guys have.
Brent Cobb
Listening to Brent Cobb speak between songs, tells the story of how he and The Red Clay Strays became friends many moons ago, and have remained that way every since – and how happy he is that they didn’t forget when they made it, so to speak. Instead the Clay boys, as he put it, brought Cobb out of the road with them.
Being a solo artist on stage alone must me a daunting task – but Cobb seemed to rise to the task. Speaking to the crowd between songs, and explaining a little about what he was playing, but the audience seemed to be more interested in talking amongst themselves instead of listening to the man play. Cobb strummed away on his acoustic guitar none the less, and for those that leant their ear to him, those were the beneficiaries of some solid, soulful country yarns.
If they had known that Cobb has written songs for the likes of Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert and The Oak Ridge Boys, among others, perhaps they would have saved their conversations for later and listened, and let those around them listen as well.
Perhaps Cobb couldn’t hear the rude banter from the stage – and I hope that was the case, and if he did it didn’t stop him from performing wonderfully. His brand of blue collar country and bluegrass couples wonderfully with his woeful lyrics about his experiences on rural living and his Southern upbringing. Thoroughly enjoyable and terrific.
The Red Clay Strays
Walking onto the stage, it was abundantly clear that these guys had class oozing from them. Vocalist Brandon Coleman looked suave and damper, well groomed in a nice suit, hair styled and slicked back – but moreover, bassist Andrew Bishop and guitarist Drew Nix wore Habs jerseys, to the roar of the crowd.
Their set opened with Good Godly, into Stones Throw and Ramblin’ – which passed by way too rapidly. Moving on to tracks like Disaster and Do Me Wrong and a great cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Swamp Music, where Brent Cobb returned to the stage to join in. As Coleman said prior to playing the song – you don’t grow up in the South without being a Skynyrd fan. Turns out Montreal, too, are fans of Skynyrd as well.
By the time Drowning was played – I was awash in a river of emotion. This is the song I had wanted most to hear and it was by far the best rendition played the whole evening. Coleman’s vocals are so powerful here, so strong in pounding the tracks message into everyone’s ear drums, and I was shocked by how great this and the rest of The Red Clay Strays tunes lend themselves to the live setting. Some bands are good on studio recordings and some are great live acts. These boys are both.
This band is so much more than just a tik tok sensation. While some of the people in the room where content having heard Wondering Why – and left the room, the vast majority where there for the long haul. Becoming a social media darling landing the band a recording contract with RCA – and the group have continued to grow every since. After tonight – I am convinced that whatever foundation they hand built with the people that had come out to see them, has been forever concreted following this performance.
The Red Clay Strays returned to the stage following a loud rendition of Ole ole the way only a Montreal crowd can do, one of a few times the audience had sang this song back to the band. When a crowd in this city sings you this tune, it is a sign of utmost respect reserve for a very select few.
They capped off the night with a four song encore set that included Will The Lord, God Does, Wanna Be Loved and No One Else. Honestly – if they had played a further four songs, I’m sure everyone would have stuck around for them.
Listen, this might be the last time anyone sees The Red Clay Strays in a venue this sized in the city of Montreal. This band is primed to explode and are on the verge of super stardom. With the return of Mumford And Sons set to take place when they drop their new record later this month – their first in seven years. Let me tell you, The Red Clay Strays are the perfect touring partner for Mumford And Sons.
Read More:
>> Kerry King at L’Olympia, Montreal
>> Voivod and the OSM at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Montreal
>> Soul Asylum at Bronson Centre, Ottawa
Those that witnessed this show tonight, will have bragging rights for years to come when they tell their friends years from now, that they saw The Red Clay Strays at the Mtelus. Nobody is going to believe you, either. But those of us that were there will know. Tonight, we witnessed something special beyond words.
The tour continues on, and if it stops in at a venue near you – make sure you don’t miss this one.
