Brandon Coleman has this voice that feels like it’s been soaking in a barrel of bourbon and Georgia rainwater for about fifty years. When you first hear the opening chords of The Red Clay Strays Wasting Time, it isn’t just a song. It's a mood. Honestly, it’s a bit of a gut punch for anyone who’s ever sat on a porch at 2 AM wondering where the last decade went.
The track, which serves as a cornerstone of their 2022 album Moment of Truth, didn’t just happen. It was built. The band, hailing from Mobile, Alabama, spent years grinding in the Gulf Coast circuit before the rest of the world finally caught on to what they were doing. They aren't just another "country" band. That label is too small. They're a massive, soulful collision of rockabilly, gospel, and straight-up soul that makes most modern radio hits feel like cardboard.
People keep coming back to this specific song. Why? Because it taps into a very specific, very human anxiety. We are all terrified of the clock.
The Anatomy of Wasting Time
You’ve probably seen the live videos. Coleman stands there, usually in a sharp suit or a western shirt, looking like a young Elvis but singing with the gravitas of a man who’s seen the end of the world. The song starts lean. Just a bit of rhythm and that haunting melody.
The lyrics in The Red Clay Strays Wasting Time are deceptively simple. They talk about the cyclic nature of procrastination and the emotional weight of inaction. It’s about being "stuck in a hole" and "trying to find a way out," but realizing you're the one who dug it.
Musically, the song breathes. It doesn't rush. This is ironic given the subject matter, but it's a brilliant choice. By slowing down the tempo and letting the reverb hang in the air, the band forces the listener to sit with the discomfort of the lyrics. Drew Nix, Zach Rishel, Andrew Bishop, and John Hall provide a backdrop that is incredibly tight but feels loose and dangerous. It's that Alabama magic.
Why the Moment of Truth Album Changed Everything
Before Moment of Truth, the Strays were a regional secret. They were the guys you saw at a dive bar and then told your friends about the next day like you’d seen a UFO. When they went into the studio to record this project, they weren't trying to fit into the Nashville machine. They were trying to capture their live energy—a task that is notoriously difficult.
Recording The Red Clay Strays Wasting Time required a certain level of vulnerability. Most bands want to sound "big." The Strays wanted to sound real. The production on the track is clean but retains a layer of grit. You can hear the fingers sliding on the strings. You can hear the air in the room. This lack of over-processing is exactly what helped it blow up on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where authenticity is the only currency that actually matters anymore.
The Viral Surge and the "Sunset" Effect
It’s impossible to talk about this song without mentioning its second life online. Around 2023 and 2024, the song became the unofficial anthem for "Western Gothic" aesthetics and "slow living" content.
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- The relatable hook: The line about wasting time resonates with a generation burnt out by the 24/7 hustle culture.
- The voice: Brandon Coleman’s range—from a low, rumbling baritone to a soaring, gravelly belt—is tailor-made for short-form video clips that need emotional impact.
- The bridge: The dynamic shift in the middle of the song provides the perfect "drop" for cinematic transitions.
But it’s more than just a soundtrack for a sunset video. It’s a song that people actually listen to the whole way through. In an era of skip-heavy streaming, that’s a massive achievement.
The Gulf Coast Sound vs. Nashville
There is a distinct difference between the "Nashville Sound" and what’s coming out of the Alabama coast. The Red Clay Strays are part of a lineage that includes guys like Jason Isbell and St. Paul & The Broken Bones. It’s music that is rooted in the church but raised in the barroom.
When you listen to The Red Clay Strays Wasting Time, you aren't hearing a committee-written pop song. You’re hearing a band that has played together for thousands of hours. They have a telepathic connection. This gives the song a "swing" that MIDI-mapped drums can never replicate. It’s human. It’s flawed. It’s perfect.
Looking Deeply at the Lyrics
Let’s get into the weeds of the writing. The song isn't just about being lazy. It’s about the paralysis of choice.
"I've been wasting my time, trying to find a way to make it mine."
That’s a heavy line. It suggests a struggle for agency. We all want to own our lives, but often we find ourselves just reacting to things. The "time" being wasted isn't just minutes; it's the potential of who we could be.
The band has often spoken in interviews about their faith and their work ethic. They don't take their success lightly. They spent years in a van, playing for five people and a bartender. That experience informs the urgency in the song. They know what it’s like to feel like the clock is ticking and the door is closing.
How the Band Evolved After This Hit
Since the massive success of this track, the band hasn't slowed down. They signed with RCA Records and started working with legendary producer Dave Cobb. This was a "make or break" move. Usually, when a gritty independent band signs to a major and works with a big producer, the edges get sanded off.
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Fortunately, that didn't happen.
Working at RCA Studio A, the same place where Waylon Jennings and Dolly Parton made history, seemed to only deepen their resolve. Their newer stuff, like the tracks on Made by These Moments, carries the torch that The Red Clay Strays Wasting Time lit. It’s still heavy. It’s still soulful. It still sounds like Alabama.
Technical Nuance: The Gear Behind the Sound
For the gear nerds out there, the sound of this track is a masterclass in "less is more."
- Guitars: Zach Rishel’s lead work often employs a Gretsch-style twang mixed with a thick, overdriven tube amp sound. It’s not about shredding; it’s about the space between the notes.
- Drums: John Hall plays with a "behind the beat" feel on this track. This is what creates that "wasting time" vibe—it feels like the song is dragging its feet in the best way possible.
- Vocals: Coleman doesn't use much in the way of pitch correction. You can hear the raw breaks in his voice, which provides the emotional "stickiness" that keeps listeners coming back.
Common Misconceptions About the Song
A lot of people think this song is a ballad about a breakup. It’s not. Or at least, it’s not just that.
While you can certainly interpret it through the lens of a failing relationship, it’s much broader. It’s an existential crisis set to music. It’s about the relationship you have with your own ambition. People often mistake the slow tempo for a lack of energy, but if you see them live, this song has more "power" than most heavy metal tracks. It’s a controlled burn.
Another misconception is that they are a "new" band. They aren't. They've been a unit since roughly 2016. The "overnight success" of The Red Clay Strays Wasting Time took about seven years to happen.
Why This Song Matters Right Now
We live in a world of distraction. Everything is designed to steal our attention. By writing a song literally titled "Wasting Time," the Red Clay Strays held up a mirror to the audience.
It’s a reminder that the most valuable thing we have is our attention. When we give it to things that don't matter, we lose a piece of ourselves. The song acts as a sort of musical "memento mori"—a reminder that we are mortal and our time is limited.
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Actionable Takeaways for Fans and New Listeners
If you’ve just discovered the band through this song, don't stop there. There is a whole world of Gulf Coast soul to explore.
1. Listen to the Full Album
Don't just stream the singles. Moment of Truth is a cohesive journey. Tracks like "Wondering Why" and "Sunshine" provide necessary context to the darker tones of "Wasting Time."
2. See Them Live (Seriously)
The Red Clay Strays are a live band first and a recording band second. Their tour schedule is grueling because they believe in the "old school" way of building a fan base—one room at a time. The energy in the room when they play "Wasting Time" is something you can't get through headphones.
3. Explore the Influences
To truly appreciate what they’re doing, go back and listen to Sun Records era Elvis, Howlin' Wolf, and The Band. You’ll start to hear the DNA of those artists in the Strays' arrangements.
4. Analyze Your Own Time
Take the song’s message to heart. If the lyrics hit home, maybe it’s a sign to stop scrolling and start doing the thing you’ve been putting off. Use the song as a catalyst rather than just a mood.
The Red Clay Strays Wasting Time is one of those rare tracks that manages to be both a "vibe" and a deep philosophical statement. It’s a song that shouldn't work in the era of three-minute pop songs, yet it does. It works because it’s honest. In a world of AI-generated content and over-polished superstars, a guy from Alabama screaming about his regrets is the most refreshing thing you’ll hear all year.
Stop wasting time. Put the record on. Turn it up until the speakers rattle. That’s how it was meant to be heard.