Live albums get too much criticism in my book. I can remember the days when they were seminal. They were my entry point to bands like Thin Lizzy, Motörhead, and that triple Springsteen box set was all the confirmation I needed that he was an artist I simply had to see.
All of which is a long way of saying that the fact The Red Clay Strays decided to record their third appearance at the legendary Ryman Theatre is to be applauded.
Some bands seem to lend themselves to live performances, and evidently, the Mobile, Alabama band are one. You can’t listen to “Ramblin'” and not hear how alive they sound, how much energy there is on stage.
Of course, energy isn’t enough on its own. And no doubt there is a class to songs like the mighty “Wanna Be Loved” from their 2024 album, “Made By These Moments”.
The raw emotion in songs like “I’m Still Fine”—which recalls the likes of Drive-By Truckers—is palpable, and the different voices meld together incredibly.
Tracks from their debut “Moment Of Truth” record are greeted like old friends, and the soulful “Wondering Why” underlines why.
The gospel flavoured “Will The Lord Remember Me” is delivered with fire-and-brimstone passion, but then they all are. If you had to categorise TRCS music, that would be a good word to use: “Drowning” bristles with it. It is quite something.
“Stone’s Throw” is part primal blues, part chain gang. The way it builds is the work of a band that’s done this for decades, not a relatively new band like this.
The guitar work on “Disaster” is perfect, and there’s such a timeless quality to this. “No One Else Like Me” could have come out at any point in the last 60 years and sounded great, but also fit in.
If that hints at not reinventing the wheel, then look at it like this: the wheel has worked just fine for centuries, and likewise, the positive “Ghosts”—which deals with “forgetting the past because it doesn’t matter”—is a mighty slice of empowerment. And when it suddenly becomes an arena rocker, it only speaks to the ambition here.
While the whole show isn’t here, they’ve worked with producer extraordinaire Dave Cobb to cherry-pick the best bits—and the last one, “Don’t Care,” is the one that ended the show. It does so in a manner that suggests that this third trip to The Ryman is nowhere near the last, and that fairly soon there won’t be a place big enough.
If you know them, then you know this anyway; if you don’t, let “Live At The Ryman” be your starting point.
Rating 9/10
REVIEW: RED CLAY STRAYS – LIVE AT THE RYMAN (2024)
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