Lost Dog Street Band is back with another single from their highly anticipated forthcoming record, and frontman Benjamin Tod believes this one might be the best song he’s ever written.
The album’s title track, “Survived” is a heavily introspective look into Tod’s years of addiction and substance abuse that single-handedly encapsulates a recurring theme, whether latently or manifestly, throughout his entire catalog: Survival through the art and outlet of writing amidst turmoil.
“Survived” follows “Brighter Shade” and “If You Leave Me Now” as the third single on the band’s 8th album Survived, set to be released in just under a month on April 26, and sure to be some of their best work yet if the singles released thus far are any indication. And interestingly enough, the album was kind of an after thought initially. It wasn’t supposed to happen, and the title track was ultimately a last minute addition to the tracklist.
Speaking of the album, Tod laments,
“I had already grieved the death of Lost Dog as a band the first week of 2023 while recording my honky tonk record. After finishing that record I realized I had a handful of other songs that would only fit under the Lost Dog banner. Given that I needed to build a band and write about half the album before we got into the studio, it was a real leap of faith.”
And the song that would ultimately become the project’s title track barely even made it on the record.
“An archetypal staple to all of our previous albums is an introspective minor waltz. I knew I needed to pull one out somehow and went into my writing cabin and banged it out. I was not extremely impressed at the moment. I made a demo and just went about my normal business.”
The result is what Tod thinks could be the greatest song he’s ever penned. And that’s saying something…
“Its metaphysical spiderweb through my life and mind is endless. It’s a testament to the struggle that got me here. If we can get out of our own way, we may be able to achieve our ideal divine self.”
So, without further ado, give Lost Dog Street Band’s latest single “Survived” a listen for yourself. Fair warning, the music video linked below contains some pretty graphic depictions of drug use.
“There’s a heavy weight at the burning stake
Living like you had died
Attrition takes at the pearly gates
Lord I have survived
Lord how have I survived”
And here is the full 10-song tracklist to Survived.
“Brighter Shade”
“Divine To Be”
“Last Train”
“Muhlenberg County Line”
“Son of Tennessee”
“Lonely Old Soul”
“Hubbardville Store”
“If You Leave Me Now”
“Survived”
Alongside Tod, Lost Dog Street Band features original members Ashley Mae, Tod’s wife, on fiddle, and Jeff Loops playing upright bass, as well as new additions Tebbs Karney on Pedal Steel and drummer Ben Duvall to round out the band’s new full band sound.
Together they’ll be bringing their new songs to a venue near you this spring in promotion of Survived, and you’re not going to want to miss it.
Tour Dates
4/18 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall*
4/19 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre*
4/20 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Cafe and Music Hall*
4/21 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone*
4/23 – Morgantown, WV – Metropolitan Theatre*
4/24 – Rochester, NY – The Essex*
4/26 – Portland, ME – State Theatre*
4/27 – South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Ballroom*
4/29 – Boston, MA – Royale*
5/1 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg*
5/3 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl*
5/4 – Washington, DC – The Howard*
5/5 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater*
5/8 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm*
5/10 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel*
5/11 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre*
5/12 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse*
5/29 – Greenville, SC – Peace Center^
5/30 – Cary, NC – Koka Booth Amphitheatre^
5/31 – Union Hall, VA – The Coves Amphitheater^
6/1 – Lexington, KY – Railbird Festival
* Support from The Resonant Rogues
^Supporting Trampled By Turtles
