Article Contributed by Dan Ward
Published on 2026-08-07
Clay Street Unit creates a party atmosphere everywhere they go. On stage, they seem like old friends jamming for the fun of it, if your friends happen to be first-order musicians. They unapologetically blend bluegrass, country western, and even some rock into a fine mixture that comes out infinitely listenable and totally enjoyable.
Having existed since 2021, the band has chosen to grace their fans with a taste of their live concerts with Live from the Road, Volume 1, which is an amazingly forward-thinking title, as once you have listened to it, you will ask: When does Volume 2 come out?
“Freightline Blues,” recorded live in Atlanta, comes out of the box like a loaded train flying down the mountain. Fiddle, mandolin, pedal steel, and guitar sizzle with the ferocity a song about traveling needs. Short but sweet, the song is on the road and gone in an instant. The great lead track is soulful and lamenting; it has the listener immediately wanting more.
The band slows down with “Drive,” recorded live in Louisville, as proven by the screams from fans heard throughout the song. The smoldering vocals are underpinned by Brad Larrison’s classic pedal steel line that keeps the song sailing along until the break, when the fiddle and mandolin take off. The rise in tempo sets the crowd off. I want to be in that audience, which is the idea of a live album.
“Virginia,” recorded live in Hampden-Sydney, should certainly qualify as the state’s unofficial anthem. The band’s mandolin player, Scotty Bolin, perfectly captures the feeling and high points of the state. From the amazing mountains to the crystal-clear streams, the song takes us to the cool mountain air and warm summer sun. Anyone who has spent time in the Old Dominion will recognize the imagery.
Clay Street Unit takes country music into the present with “Let’s Get Stoned.” The song, recorded live in Oklahoma City (where recreational use is still illegal), follows the genre of being in love and using a little somatic intervention to make the love vibes sing. It’s a call to enjoy the simple things in life and fits perfectly with the band’s motif.
The band travels to North Carolina for “One Last Time,” the longest track on the release. The song serves to introduce the band while Jack Kotarba gives a funky bass line to this most psychedelic of the tracks. The pedal steel and guitar bend and swing, while mandolin, bass, and fiddle hold the country line underneath. As with all the band’s songs, instrumental mastery shines. In the middle break, the song has a shuffle feel served up flawlessly by drummer Brendan Lamb, giving the listener a feeling of movement. As we pull into the station, we are rewarded with more trippy “Jerry-esque” guitar and fiddle. As the song suggests, we all need to be set free.
Every album needs an old-time-feeling song, and CSU’s frontman Sam Walker serves up “Rollin’” as a coming-to-grips-with-reality tune. The song was recorded during their time in Houston and has the feeling of vastness. Pure magic rolls out in a continual stream as the band adds vocal color to this hard-hitting country-western song that resolves with our ability to control only ourselves.
The band’s cover of Last Revel’s “Engine Trouble” comes to us from North Carolina again. Dan Andree’s fiddle drives us along as the song chases love unrequited. The mandolin sings along with the protagonist’s pain as he describes his love for an unobtainable woman. CSU blends the tune in their own way and makes it very memorable.
“Where Have You Gone” is the question posed by the band from their Louisville show. Dark, gray, and longing, the question sings out with a wondrous blend of country and bluegrass. The crowd was extra fired up for this track, and the listener is transported to the evening.
Charlotte, NC, was chosen for the track “Kids.” There are not enough accolades to sum up the feelings this track produces. Screaming guitar, a melodic line that keeps moving, and lyrics that sound like everyday life meet in an understandably chaotic summation: take only what you need. The words find a home in all of us.
The final track is another cover, but this one runs deep. The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” has been recorded and dissected for years. The pain and anguish mixed with sensitive subject matter have always created tension. Levon Helm put the thoughts to music, and we are left wondering: Should they have taken the very best? CSU handles the song masterfully, giving it a clear, sensitive feeling without political comment. It is truly worth the listen.
The release comes out August 21 and is sure to please old fans and make the band many new ones. Catch them on tour so you can be part of the party.
