Putting some rock and roll in your ears this Friday.
The Red Clay Strays have done it again, laying down another absolute heater. Earlier this week, the Mobile, Alabama group announced their next single shortly after the release of “Wanna Be Loved,” which was an instant hit among fans.
Today, the men of Red Clay Strays released their second single from their forthcoming album, Made By These Moments, highlighting their dynamic sound. From the tender message of wanting to be loved and validated one “Wanna Be Loved,” they are cranking up the heat on the rock and roll-inspired track “Devil In My Ear.”
Written by guitarist Drew Nix, the song focuses on the other end of the mental health spectrum, detailing the feeling of not being good enough. While “Wanna Be Loved” hopes that someone lifts them up, “Devil In My Ear” talks about the voices in your head that keep putting you down when you find yourself in the darkest of places:
“‘Devil in My Ear’ is a song that came to me during a time when I was trying to figure out why somebody who was dear to me, and many others, would take their own life. Somebody who, even with superb talent, a loving family, and good friends thought their life either wasn’t worth living anymore or they were experiencing a pain so severe internally that they could no longer live with it.
This song is dedicated to the people who have had these thoughts and moments where they feel like their life doesn’t matter enough to stick around. Please stick around. Somebody loves you. Those thoughts are lies and things will get better. God bless.”
The lyrics highlight how complex the mind can be, as many often convince themselves they are worthless and not good enough. It’s a reminder that the “devil in your ear” is really just yourself, which can frequently lead to a spiral of self-medication and self-sabotage. The narrator of the song realizes that it’s his thoughts that are pushing him to a dark place, and he is pleading with himself to stop the self-harm so that he can bring himself to a better place mentally.
“I try to push them all away, but those thoughts, they stick around
Thriving on my pain, and they keep bringing me down
I pray to God for peace of mind, for the gloom to disappear
I can’t find a cause to live with the devil in my ear…”
The video highlights the isolation one can feel when in a dark place, and the band portrayed the “Devil In My Ear” as a snake constantly trying to keep a tight grip on the main character.
The song’s message, combined with the video’s visuals, packs a powerful punch. With one listen, you’ll feel this one in your soul.
Made By These Moments Tracklist:
1. Disaster
2. Wasting Time
3. Wanna Be Loved
4. No One Else Like Me
5. Ramblin’
6. Drowning
7. Devil In My Ear
8. I’m Still Fine
9. On My Knees
10. Moments
11. God Does
The Red Clay Strays Tour Dates
June 21—Pelham, TN—The Caverns (SOLD OUT)
June 22—Pelham, TN—The Caverns (SOLD OUT)
June 23—Pelham, TN—The Caverns (SOLD OUT)
June 27—Fort Worth, TX—Billy Bob’s (SOLD OUT)
June 28—San Antonio, TX—Boeing Center at Tech Port (LOW TICKETS)
June 29—Lubbock, TX—Cotton Fest
July 10—Columbus, OH—The Bluestone (SOLD OUT)
July 11—Columbus, OH—The Bluestone (SOLD OUT)
July 12—Chicago, IL—Windy City Smokeout 2024
July 13—Grand Rapids, MI—The Intersection (SOLD OUT)
July 19—Cheyenne, WY—Cheyenne Frontier Days 2024
July 20—Salt Lake City, UT—The Complex (SOLD OUT)
July 21—Redmond, OR—FairWell Festival
July 24—Airway Heights, WA—Spokane Live (SOLD OUT)
July 25—Portland, OR—Crystal Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
July 26—Seattle, WA—The Showbox (SOLD OUT)
July 27—Rexford, MT—Abayance Bay Marina (LOW TICKET WARNING)
August 2—Minneapolis, MN—Basilica Block Party
August 3—St. Charles, IA—Hinterland
August 9—Elkhorn, NE—The Club at Indian Creek
August 10—Oshkosh, WI—Xroads41 2024
August 18—Dublin, Ireland—The Academy, Middle Abbey Street (SOLD OUT)
August 20—Glasgow, U.K.—SWG3 (LOW TICKET WARNING)
August 21—Manchester, U.K.—O2 Ritz Manchester (LOW TICKET WARNING)
August 23—London, U.K.—O2 Shepherds Bush Empire (LOW TICKET WARNING)
August 24—Bottesford, U.K.—The Long Road Festival (LOW TICKET WARNING)
August 25—Koln, Germany—Sound of Nashville Open Air 2024
August 31—Weston, CO—Monument Lake Resort
September 4—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium† (SOLD OUT)
September 5—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium+ (SOLD OUT)
September 6—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium# (SOLD OUT)
September 12—Indianapolis, IN—Murat Theatre‡ (LOW TICKET WARNING)
September 13—Bristol, TN—Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
September 14—Birmingham, AL—Avondale Brewing Company‡ (SOLD OUT)
September 15—Pryor, OK—Born & Raised Festival
September 18—Silver Spring, MD—The Fillmore^ (LOW TICKET WARNING)
September 19—Pittsburgh, PA—Stage AE^
September 20—Louisville, KY—Bourbon & Beyond
October 1—Brooklyn, NY—Brooklyn Paramount~
October 3—Philadelphia, PA—The Fillmore~ (LOW TICKET WARNING)
October 4—Ocean City, MD—Country Calling
October 5—Boston, MA—Roadrunner~ (LOW TICKET WARNING)
October 10—New Orleans, LA—The Fillmore**(LOW TICKET WARNING)
October 11-13—Austin, TX—Austin City Limits Festival
October 12—Oklahoma City, OK—The Criterion**
October 16—Atlanta, GA—Coca-Cola Roxy†† (LOW TICKET WARNING)
October 17—Atlanta, GA—Tabernacle
October 18—Simpsonville, SC—Greenville Country Music Fest
October 19—Simpsonville, SC—Greenville Country Music Festival 2024
October 31—Denver, CO—The Mission Ballroom††
November 8—Los Angeles, CA—The Wiltern++ (LOW TICKET WARNING)
November 9—San Diego, CA—SOMA++
November 10—Anaheim, CA—House of Blues†† (LOW TICKET WARNING)
†with special guests Taylor Hunnicutt and Aaron Raitiere
+with special guests Nolan Taylor and The Castellows
#with special guests Pony Bradshaw and Ben Chapman
‡with special guest Bella White
^with special guest Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge
~with special guest The Glorious Sons
**with special guest Black Pistol Fire
††with special guest Tanner Usrey
++with special guest The Moss
