As recently as 2023, the Red Clay Strays were road-dogging the country as a five-piece band in their Ford van they dubbed The Breeze, playing bars and listening rooms for anyone who would listen. This past weekend, they sold out Madison Square Garden.
Such a feat would have seemed unfathomable not long ago. Yet there they were Sunday night, a decade later and 1,200 miles away from where it all began in Mobile, AL, preparing to take the stage at one of the world’s most famous arenas.
The band must have felt right at home when they rolled into town, because New York City was as hot and humid as Mobile this time of year. With temperatures holding steady above 90 degrees, country music fans entered Madison Square Garden early and in droves to beat the heat, and a palpable excitement for what was to come fought tirelessly to drown out the hustle and bustle of the city streets outside.
Displayed prominently above the entrance, as the several buses and trailers they now travel with lined the adjacent street, a ginormous digital sign adorned with the band’s faces read, “The Red Clay Strays with Special Guests The Revivalists and Brent Cobb… Tonight SOLD OUT.” Inside, however, the heat and chaos of Midtown Manhattan gave way to an evening more special than even the eager fans could have imagined, where an unassuming band with its roots in Alabama remarkably transformed the iconic venue into something that felt remarkably like a revival.
There was no communion to be had or sermon to be heard, but a congregation comprised of fans from all creeds and backgrounds gathered together as frontman Brandon Coleman turned the stage into a pulpit. Backed by one of the hottest bands in music, he delivered songs of faith, love, gratitude, and redemption with a conviction that stirred the souls of what could have been up to 20,000 fans in attendance. And if that sounds dramatic to you, then well, you just needed to be there.
There wasn’t anything overtly religious about the event. But taking in the scene amidst an assembly of thousands who came from from near and far to participate, it felt like something bigger than a concert – a shared experience that brought strangers together for five hours through music and a celebration of a band that has worked relentlessly for this moment.
With legendary producer Dave Cobb behind the boards, the band’s blistering set was recorded as a live album, so fans who weren’t able to make the show will eventually get a glimpse of of what took place that night. But in the meantime, to fully appreciate the magnitude of the moment, let me take you inside the Garden and tell you how the night unfolded.
Before the Red Clay Strays could turn Madison Square Garden into a full-blown revival of Southern music, their close friend and Dave’s cousin Brent Cobb took the stage to kick things off. The Georgia native addressed the New York crowd in his thick southern accent, and with the strum of a guitar, he and his band The Fixin’s were off an running. They dove right into a potent funk-riddled southern rock set comprised of songs spanning his entire 20+ year career, including “Bar, Guitar, and a Honky Tonk Crowd” and “Black Creek,” and even featured a guest appearance from his pal Josh Morningstar.
While I am sure plenty of people in attendance were already familiar with Cobb, it’s difficult for anyone playing the first set at such a massive show to captivate a crowd. But he managed to do so with ease and little fanfare, letting the strength of his songs and the band behind him do the work.
Next up was a band that offers an entirely different interpretation of Southern music. Hailing from New Orleans, The Revivalists piled onto the stage as a nine-piece outfit featuring two drummers and a two-man horn section. By the time their set commenced, the arena had filled out, and frontman David Shaw held everyone in the palm of his hand with his high-energy stage presence. Possessing a sound that falls somewhere between funk and alt-rock, complemented by a catalog of slower ballads that could easily be called country, The Revivalists put on the kind of show that feels tailor-made for the biggest stages, whether they’re playing MSG or a club in front of a thousand people. Fittingly, they owned the Garden.
Weaving between classics from their catalog and a few tracks off their stellar record Get It Honest, which dropped just a few weeks prior, they kept the Garden on the edge of its seat before culminating with an electrifying cover of Tom Petty’s “American Girl” that seamlessly flowed into their mega-hit “Wish I Knew You.” Leaving the fans reeling for more, the stage was aptly set for the main event.
At exactly 9 p.m., The Red Clay Strays took the stage to prolonged applause from the ecstatic crowd and ripped into a marathon set that lasted over two and a half hours. With a lineup anchored by their typical six-man outfit, the show served as a New York debut for Long Island native and guitar tech-turned-band member Robbie Prevete, while three additional backup vocalists took the band’s sound to a new level.
Dressed to the nines and sporting his signature pompadour hairdo that immediately evokes the nostalgic aesthetic associated with their music, Coleman sang the lyrics, “Darlin’ why’d you go and listen, they ain’t got nothing good to say,” with vocal restraint and minimal instrumentation behind him. Moments later, the band and backup vocalists came in with full force for a dramatic performance of “Demons in Your Choir,” and the tone was set.
Going straight into the fan-favorite rock and roller “Stone’s Throw,” which was accompanied by an electric highlight reel of their hometown Mobile on the big screen, Coleman didn’t fully address the crowd until after the first two songs were through. At this point, he told the crowd that he and the band love New York City despite their southern disposition, and ironically introduced the next song that was actually inspired by an interaction in one of the New York airports years prior, even if it wasn’t exactly a pleasant one.
Included on their latest record Grateful and written by guitarist Drew Nix and Matthew Coleman — who wears many hats as one of the band’s primary songwriters, full-time cameraman, and brother to Brandon — the band’s performance of “Down South” felt eerily similar to something that could have been dropped into a taping of a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert in their ’70s heyday. And it was safe to say the band was off and running.
One of the highlights of the show came unexpectedly a couple songs later, when Coleman announced that in an effort to pull out all the stops for such a special show, they had a special guest fly in to join them for a couple of songs. And just like that, budding superstar Zach Top emerged from backstage to another raucous ovation, and delivered a breathtaking duet of the Strays’ “Don’t Wanna Know.”
From there, the band hit its flow state, giving everything it had to a setlist that encompassed many of its biggest hits alongside several new tunes from Grateful. Among the many themes woven throughout the album, one of its cornerstones is the important role faith plays in the band’s lives as they navigate their own journeys, and the gratitude they feel for all that the Lord has done for them.
At some point during the show, potentially before or after they played their aptly titled track “Revival,” Coleman assured the crowd that he didn’t mean to preach at anyone, explaining that each member of the band holds different beliefs and is far from perfect. To drive home the point, he particularly mentioned that John Hall, the band’s drummer, drinks beer and cusses a lot, prompting John to leap out of his drum chair and pump up the crowd for an awesome applause.
But after that disclaimer, Coleman continued to assert that it would be disingenuous for he and his bandmates to shy away from that content in their songs. After all, they write about their experiences for a living, and God’s impact plays a profound role in their lives.
It was a striking moment of candor before they closed their set with an extended version of “On My Knees,” a fast-paced gospel-rock song about surrendering one’s struggles to the Lord and giving thanks for everything He has done. With the audience clapping along in unison and the band nailing every note, it was a fitting and deeply moving culmination to a set that had, from the very beginning, felt like far more than just a concert.
After briefly exiting the stage, the Red Clay Strays returned for a six-song encore that began with “Fool’s Gold” and a poignant performance of “Wanna Be Loved.” Since the show was being recorded for a live album, producer Dave Cobb requested a couple of retakes, and despite the fans taking no offense to the proposition, Coleman and the band begrudgingly obliged. Diving back into two of the highlights from the first set, they opened with “Demons in Your Choir” before bringing Top back out for “Don’t Wanna Know,” with the fans cheering them on through performances that were somehow even stronger the second time around.
As the clock ticked closer to midnight on a Sunday, Coleman and Top then improvised an impromptu cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night” that was solid country gold. And to cap it all off, Brent Cobb and The Revivalists’ David Shaw returned to the stage to close the night with a high-energy rendition of “No One Else Like Me,” putting a bow on what will surely go down as one of the most memorable nights in Red Clay Strays history.
Check out the full setlist below, and be on the look out for updates from the band as they begin to roll out the live album.
The Red Clay Strays Setlist (MSG – 8/9/2026)
- Demons in Your Choir
- Stone’s Throw
- Down South
- Walking Away
- Don’t Wanna Know (with Zach Top)
- Can’t Fix You
- If I Didn’t Know You
- Do Me Wrong
- Devil in My Ear
- Sunshine
- Do Today
- People Hatin’
- Revival
- Wondering Why
- Drowning
- I’m Still Fine
- Moments
- Grateful
- On My Knees
Encore
- Fool’s Gold
- Wanna Be Loved
- Demons in Your Choir (producer requested a second take)
- Don’t Wanna Know (with Zach Top) (producer requested a re-take)
- Help Me Make It Through the Night (Kris Kristofferson cover, with Zach Top)
- No One Else Like Me (with Brent Cobb & David Shaw)
As the lead singer and only band member who really talked to the crowd, Coleman certainly gets a lot of the recognition. But the Red Clay Strays wouldn’t be where they are if it weren’t for the whole collective. Guitarists Zach Rishel and Drew Nix continuously pour their hearts into their craft, while the high-energy onstage dynamic between bassist Andrew Bishop and drummer John Hall is nothing short of spectacular. These Mobile natives added Oklahoman Sevans Henderson on keys a couple of years ago, and the sonic element he adds has completely taking their sound to another level.
Together, these musicians have struck a chord that has resonated with the masses in a profound manner. And that was on full display throughout their 2.5-plus-hour set in New York City.
As you can probably imagine, this was one of those shows that was hard to believe I was in attendance for, even as it transpired right in front of my eyes. I started following the Red Clay Strays when they were still playing 150-capacity listening rooms like The Evening Muse in my home base of Charlotte, NC, and to see them sell out Madison Square Garden was nothing short of surreal.
I don’t know how they could possibly top a show like this, but then again, the Red Clay Strays have proven they don’t need Madison Square Garden to put on a top-tier show. They bring that same energy and conviction wherever they play. So get out there and catch them while they’re on the road for the next couple of months. You won’t need a revival to convince you—they’ll do that all on their own.
The Red Clay Strays Tour Dates
August 16 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center with Dylan Gossett & Sweet Talk
August 18 – Grand Forks, ND – Alerus Center with Dylan Gossett & Sweet Talk
August 19 – Bismarck, ND – Bismarck Event Center with Dylan Gossett & Sweet Talk
August 21 – Bozeman, MT – Brick Breeden Fieldhouse with Sweet Talk
August 22 – Missoula, MT – Adams Ceter with Dylan Gossett & Sweet Talk
August 26 – Spokane, WA – Numerica Veterans Arena with Wyatt Flores & Sweet Talk
August 27 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena with Wyatt Flores & Sweet Talk
August 29 – Portland, OR – Moda Center with Wyatt Flores & Sweet Talk
August 30 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena with Wyatt Flores & Sweet Talk
September 2 – West Valley City, UT – Maverik Center with Dylan Gossett & Sweet Talk
September 4 – Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Amphitheater at Caesars Republic with Dylan Gossett & Sweet Talk
September 11 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center with Dylan Gossett & Sweet Talk
September 12 – Ontario, CA – Toyota Arena with Dylan Gossett & Sweet Talk
September 16 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena San Diego with Dylan Gossett & Sweet Talk
September 17 – Phoenix, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena with Dylan Gossett & Sweet Talk
September 20 – San Antonio, TX – Frost Bank Center with Muscadine Bloodline & Sweet Talk
September 30 – Toronto, CA – RBC Amphitheater – with The Revivalist & Haley Reinhart
October 1 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena with The Revivalist & Haley Reinhart
October 3 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena with The Revivalist & Haley Reinhart
October 7 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena with Shane Smith & the Saints & Brent Cobb
October 14 – Orlando, FL – Kia Center with The Revivalist & Haley Reinhart
October 15 – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena with The Revivalist & Haley Reinhart
October 17 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium with The Revivalist & Haley Reinhart
October 18 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena with The Revivalist & Haley Reinhart
October 22 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena with Brent Cobb & Sierra Ferrell
October 23 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena with Brent Cobb & Sierra Ferrell
October 28 – Knoxville, TN – Food City Center with Wyatt Flores & Brent Cobb
October 31 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at the BJCC with Shane Smith & the Saints & Brent Cobb
November 5 – Baton Rouge, LA – Raising Cane’s River Center with Muscadine Bloodline & Brent Cobb
November 6 – Bossier City, LA – Brookshire Grocery Arena with Muscadine Bloodline & Brent Cobb
November 8 – Jonesboro, AR – First National Bank Arena with Muscadine Bloodline & Brent Cobb
November 13 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena with Travis Tritt & Brent Cobb