For Sam Walker, lead singer of Clay Street Unit, growing up just outside of Montgomery meant the best of both worlds: the charm of city life paired with the wide-open spaces of his grandparents’ farm in Clay County. “I treasured every year I spent there,” Walker says, reflecting on Ashland and Montgomery alike. “I try to get back as much as I can—every time I come home, it feels like a recharge.”

That southern grounding informs much of Clay Street Unit’s debut full-length album, Sin & Squalor, a record that blends bluegrass, folk, Americana, and southern rock into a sound that’s both rooted and adventurous. Recorded in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the album showcases the songwriting and musical chemistry of six friends who met in Denver in 2021. Mandolinist Scottie Bolin, banjo player Jack Cline, pedal steel guitarist Brad Larrison, drummer Brendan Lamb, bassist Jack Kotarba, and Walker himself took pieces of their hometowns—Montgomery, Atlanta, Charlottesville—and fused them with the energy and ruggedness of the West.

Carrying Alabama West

After college at the University of Alabama, Walker says he was ready for a change–and that leap took him to Denver. “It was exciting to leave a comfortable place, see what I was made of, and experience something completely new,” Walker says. “I’d never been in a metropolitan city of that size. It was a big melting pot, and I loved it.” After he was settled, an early open mic turned into a trio of musician friends, and eventually grew into a full six-piece band—and a full-time musical life.

Life on the road, Walker admits, can be exhausting, but also deeply rewarding. “A lot of people think it’s glamorous, but it’s mostly endless driving and hotels,” he says. “What makes it special is who you’re with. We all get along, we all love the music, and we look out for each other. It feels like the best kind of road trip.”

Shaping the Record

Sin & Squalor reflects that camaraderie, blending varied influences into a cohesive record. With eleven tracks, the album moves fluidly from fiery roots-driven anthems to reflective storytelling. When asked if he has a favorite track, Walker doesn’t hesitate: “Way Over Yonder,” he says.

The last track on the album, “Way Over Yonder” is a heartfelt ode to Ashland, Alabama, and Walker’s grandparents’ farm. “It’s all of my memories there,” Walker says. “The deck, the pasture, my grandparents growing old together, turning a house into a home.” The track offers a deeply personal moment that captures the heart of the band’s approach: songs born from lived experience, shared in an open and raw manner.

The album balances these intimate stories with high-energy numbers built for live performance. “Where Have You Gone” features dazzling mandolin riffs and a call-and-response chorus, while “Drive” captures the urgency of leaving everything behind to be with someone you love, launching from a slow lament into an energetic fifth gear. Whenever Clay Street Unit takes the stage, Walker says the goal is simple: “We’re just trying to throw a party. Life’s hard enough already. We want to remind people to let loose, love each other, and enjoy themselves.”

Taking the stage in Birmingham

The band hits the road this month in support of Sin & Squalor, bringing their southern-rooted, genre-blurring sound back to Alabama. Fans in Birmingham can catch Clay Street Unit alongside singer/songwriter Cris Jacobs at Saturn on February 12th—a show Walker says he’s especially excited about. “It’s our third time there,” he says. “Every time we play in Alabama, it feels like coming home. The green, the southern hospitality, the food—it all reminds me of where I came from, and I’m grateful to share this music with people who get it.”

From Ashland to Denver and back again, Clay Street Unit has turned risk, friendship, and a love of music into something deeply resonant: an album that celebrates the band’s roots while embracing the road ahead.

You can find tickets for Clay Street Unit’s upcoming show at Saturn here.