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Benjamin Tod Drops A Honky Tonk Anthem For The Underdogs With “Hell I Have”
Benjamin Tod is back at it with another jab at the Nashville music machine… And I’m 100% here for it.
Tod has been very vocal over the years about his displeasure with the current state of Nashville and how the mainstream scene doesn’t have enough respect for the country music craft. As one of the more prolific artists in the genre of late, he has the lengthy catalog of real country music to back up his talk, too.
Having spent the majority of his teenage years and young adulthood as a drifter and addict, Tod traded his adolescence for life in boxcars and busking on street corners. He’s found more stability in his life over the past several years, but his frustration with the industry makes perfect sense. As a result of the rough lifestyle he endured for so long – and his steadfast commitment to upholding the traditions of country music – Tod’s perception of right and wrong, respect and honor, likely differs from that of a person that has lived comfortably within the typical boundaries of society.
Consequently, he has felt like an underdog in the music industry for his whole career, and that’s why he wrote his brand new single, “Hell I Have.” Sonically, the steel-soaked track harkens back to a classic honky-tonk sound that is sure to resonate with any fan of real country music. And lyrically, the single marks yet another feather in Tod’s songwriting cap, showcasing his impressive ability to draw upon his experiences and eloquently convey a message important to him.
Tod provided some additional context behind his new single:
“‘Hell I Have’ is a song for the underdogs. People that have more scars than trophies or awards. Folks who have the determination and perseverance that only comes from crawling out of hell.
We all have the pretenders and the privileged to compete with but it’s important to remember that it’s the experience of the hardship that built the character inside of us. It’s the breaking of our own hearts that allows us to empathize with a stranger’s struggle. I am thankful for the windy broken road I was given.
It’s also for all the real artists, songwriters and traditional country players who have to deal with the exploitation and erasure brought on by the ‘country’ music gold rush of the moment. We will remain, and I thank you all for your dedication in these trying times.”
Give Benjamin Tod’s latest single “Hell I Have” a listen for yourself below.
“I can make do with a train and a tune
‘Cause at least I ain’t in jail
But you were raised for finer things
And Nashville’s now for sale”
There are plenty of “country” artists out there who either falsely claim to be or have become the industry-appointed torchbearers of country music. Very few, though, actually do as much to preserve and promote the genre’s sound and spirit as Tod does. If you can appreciate his latest single “Hell I Have,” and his efforts to preserve country music and maintain dignity in his craft, then I highly suggest getting out there and catching one of Tod’s shows in 2026.
Benjamin Tod Tour Dates:
4/16 – Ozark Music Hall – Fayetteville, AR
4/17 – Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK
4/19 – Longhorn Ballroom – Dallas, TX
4/20 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX
4/21 – Emo’s Austin – Austin, TX
4/23 – La Rosa – Tuscon, AZ
4/25 – Stagecoach – Indio, CA*
4/26 – The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA
4/28 – Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA
4/30 – The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT
5/1 – Mishawaka Amphitheatre – Bellvue, CO
5/2 – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO
5/4 – Madrid Theatre – Kansas City, MO
5/5 – Gilloz Theatre – Springfield, MO
5/7 – Bluebird Nightclub – Bloomington, IN
5/8 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
5/9 – Brooklyn Bowl Nashville – Nashville, TN
7/9 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
7/10 – Turner Hall Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
7/11 – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL
7/12 – Woody’s Des Moines, IA
7/14 – The Lincoln – Cheyenne, WY
7/17 – Under the Big Sky Festival – Whitefish, MT*
7/20 – Jackson Hole Center for the Arts – Jackson, WY
7/23 – Showbox SoDo – Seattle, WA
7/24 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR
7/25 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR
7/26 – Knitting Factory Concert House – Boise, ID
7/30 – Slowdown – Omaha, NE
7/31 – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO
8/1 – The Burl – Lexington, KY
10/2 – Globe Iron – Cleveland, OH
10/3 – The Majestic Theatre – Detroit, MI
10/4 – Roxian Theatre – Pittsburgh, PA
10/6 – Anthology – Rochester, NY
10/8 – Higher Ground Ballroom – South Burlington, VT
10/9 – Higher Ground Ballroom – South Burlington, VT
10/10 – State Theatre – Portland, ME
10/11 – Royale – Boston, MA
10/13 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
10/15 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
10/16 – Howard Theatre – Washington D.C.
10/17 – The Jefferson Theatre – Charlottesville, VA
10/18 – Cat’s Cradle – Carborro, NC
10/20 – The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC
10/22 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
10/23 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
10/24 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
10/25 – Thee Mill & Mine – Knoxville, TN
*festival dateThe post Benjamin Tod Drops A Honky Tonk Anthem For The Underdogs With “Hell I Have” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.
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