Description
Clay Street Unit
“Whenever we’re onstage, we’re just trying to throw a party,” says Clay Street Unit’s Sam Walker. “Life’s hard enough already. We want to remind people to let loose, love each other, and enjoy themselves.”
Celebration. Catharsis. Friendship. It’s all part of Sin & Squalor, Clay Street Unit’s full-length debut. Recorded in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and inspired by the sounds of the Appalachians, it’s a record that blurs the borders between genre and geography. The result is a singular interpretation of American roots music — a sound that mixes the acoustic instrumentation of bluegrass and folk with the amplified energy of Americana and country. Driven forward by drums, sharp songwriting, and the chemistry of six good friends and musical brothers who’ve shared countless hours on stage, Sin & Squalor doesn’t just nod to Clay Street Unit’s wide spread of influences; it reshapes them into something new.
Sin & Squalor showcases more than the string-band stomp and eclectic enthusiasm of a must-see live act, though. It also highlights Walker’s ability to turn everyday stories into something cinematic. On “Let’s Get Stoned,” he paints the picture of two lovers taking stock of life’s simple pleasures. The rent is high and their apartment is cold, but they’ve still got each other, as well as some weed and bottom-shelf whiskey. The song is a countrified celebration of the things that keep us aloft, and Walker sings it with a voice like broken-in leather, supple one minute and sturdy the next.
Call it folk-country. Call it western Americana. Call it Rocky Mountain Newgrass with southern soul. Clay Street Unit aren’t concerned about the various definitions; they’re just happy that more and more people are listening. With Sin & Squalor, they stake their claim as torchbearers of something both fresh and familiar, nodding to the traditions of American roots music while sharpening their own modern edge.
Reserved large group tickets are available. Please reach out to events@ledgestonewine.com for more information.