Less than two months since fellow independent star, Wyatt Flores, appeared on the iconic format, today, The Red Clay Strays became the most recent country band to appear on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert.
For those unfamiliar with the Tiny Desk Concert format, it typically consists of artists performing a three to four-song set behind the desk of former All Songs Considered host, Bob Boilen. The format has produced some of the most iconic performances from artists across genres, ranging from Mac Miller and Tyler, The Creator to Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers.
For music fans, especially independent ones, Tiny Desk Concerts have been considered some of the best formats to not only be introduced to smaller acts but also to hear artists deliver reimaginings of some of their biggest songs.
Though Red Clay didn’t deviate far from what we’ve heard from their studio recordings, they delivered a killer five-song set of tracks off of their sophomore record, Made by These Moments. Including hits such as “Wanna Be Loved” and “I’m Still Fine,” the Alabama natives once again prove here why they’re not only one of the hottest bands in the genre but in all of music.
Introducing “Moments,” frontman, Brandon Coleman, shared some insight into the name of their sophomore album, “When we went into the studio to record this album, we only had like five or six songs. And we didn’t really know what was gonna become of the album. The more we recorded, we kind of picked up on the message that was happening. [It] was just going through everything that happens to us as people, and then coming out of it and finding hope, then realizing that it made you stronger. And that’s why we named the album after this song, ‘Moments.’ It’s about realizing every terrible thing that you’ve gone through is what makes you the person you are today.
As previously mentioned, there’s no denying that The Red Clay Strays are one of the best bands working today, and this Tiny Desk performance is just another timely reminder of this. It’s not every day that you find a band that can transverse country, southern rock and gospel elements so flawlessly, and they display this perfectly here.
Watch the full performance here: