It was Day Six at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles and the fun had just begun, considering the fast-rising American country rock band from Alabama The Red Clay Strays was about to take the stage that night alongside Kaitlin Butts.
With a cool breeze in the air to break up the summer heat, fans came flowing steady into the grandstand.
Butts and her band opened up the show theatrically, with storytelling themes ranging from love to murder. The Oklahoma native had just released her new album entitled Roadrunner!, with lead single “You Ain’t Gotta Die (Die To Be Dead To Me)” escalating to quick fame by going viral on TikTok. There is something about a good country murder song that always tell gets the people going!
Personally, I think Kaitlin Butts is a great contender to be the queen of country music murder anthems, seeing that “White River” made the set list. She is an artist I highly recommend, so go take the time to give her a listen!
As the sun went down, the crowd got extra excited and amped up for The Red Clay Strays. If you’re new to the band, think of their sound as a mix of country rock with some bluegrass and a little bit of gospel thrown in for good measure Lead singer Brandon Coleman has got a voice that just draws you in and keeps your attention for every word. His stage appearance and the way he stands playing his guitar resembles Johnny Cash, with quick dance moves reminiscent of Elvis.
From beginning to end, fans were locked into the band’s performance. The stage was set up simply, with changing visuals on the screen behind them to match hits like “I’m Still Fine”, “Good Godly Woman”, and “Drowning”. After getting the crowd sufficiently warmed up, Coleman slowed the energy down by sitting at a piano for a few songs.
But, with just a quick strum from his guitar and the word “She”, Coleman got the crowd to absolutely lose their minds again. Fans knew what was next. Starting over, Coleman launched into the big viral success song that launched their career — “Wondering Why”. Fans sang so loud that I’m sure it was heard all throughout the fairgrounds.
The one song I was looking forward to hear, of course, had to be set as the last, with the band playing “Wanna Be Loved” as the encore. It seemed like the crowd was also long awaiting it, since the place got lit up by phones throughout the song’s entirety. In all, I enjoyed the night and glad The Red Clay Strays got to play a venue this this size… although I think a smaller indoor venue would make for a good show, too! If the band is playing in a town near you with that kind of setup, I would be so jealous! Get your ticket now before this band blows up even more, is all I can say.
Photography by Brittany App
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