“If time heals everything…” The Dead South introduce their fourth studio album with “Tiny Wooden Box,” a song that gets right into it with a big hypothetical. The first single and video from forthcoming Chains & Stakes, out February 9, 2024, shows the four-piece in top form in a rolling, roiling “State Trooper” style finger-picked nail-biter.
On “Tiny Wooden Box,” The Dead South confront the challenges of returning home from two angles: existential and actuarial. The true story starts with a phone call, an offer from an insurance agent too good to refuse. As the song contemplates the cost of life’s last one-way ticket, the mood spirals, growing more ominous and anxious. Propelled by the chugging acoustic guitar, “Tiny Wooden Box” picks up speed as it hurtles head on through uneasy thoughts; group “ooh ahs” boom like heavy thunder with bolts of off-kilter banjo.
Shot on the Historic Graham Ranch deep in the Alberta Badlands, the video for “Tiny Wooden Box” sets the band in an awe-inspiring landscape, a visual antithesis of the song’s smaller - much smaller - setting. Directed by Edmonton-based Jeremy Chugg, “Tiny Wooden Box” sets the scene for Chains & Stakes with its mix of grandeur and graveyard, close calls and resolve. As night falls over ridge and river, The Dead South make a deal with the Reaper for another day.
Watch “Tiny Wooden Box” here.
Six Shooter Records will release Chains & Stakes worldwide on February 9, 2024.
CHAINS & STAKES TOUR DATES
2023
London, UK: Roundhouse, Oct 27
Manchester, UK: O2 Apollo, Oct 28
Newcastle, UK: O2 City Hall, Oct 29
Edinburgh, UK: Usher Hall, Oct 30
Belfast, UK: Ulster Hall, Nov 1 *SOLD OUT
Dublin, IE: Vicar Street, Nov 2 *SOLD OUT
Wolverhampton, UK: Civic Hall, Nov 4
Nottingham, UK: Rock City, Nov 5 *SOLD OUT
Cambridge, UK: Corn Exchange, Nov 7
Portsmouth, UK: Guildhall, Nov 8
Bristol, UK: Marble Factory, Nov 9 *SOLD OUT
Plymouth, UK: Plymouth Pavilions, Nov 10
2024
Cleveland, OH: TempleLive Masonic, Feb 12
Pittsburgh, PA: Stage AE, Feb 13
Silver Spring, MD: The Fillmore, Feb 14
Philadelphia, PA: Franklin Music Hall, Feb 16
Norfolk, VA: The NorVa, Feb 17
Charlotte, NC: The Fillmore, Feb 18
Atlanta, GA: The Eastern, Feb 19
Austin, TX: ACL Live at the Moody Theatre, Feb 21
Dallas, TX: The Factory, Feb 22
San Antonio, TX: Aztec Theatre, Feb 23
Houston, TX: House of Blues Houston, Feb 24
Memphis, TN: Minglewood Hall, Feb 26
Fayetteville, AR: JJ’s Live, Feb 27
Tulsa, OK: Cain’s Ballroom, Feb 28
Steamboat Springs, CO: Winter WonderGrass, Mar 1
Perth, AU: Metropolis Fremantle, Mar 20
Adelaide, AU: Hindley Street Music Hall, Mar 21
Melbourne, AU: Forum Melbourne, Mar 23
Melbourne, AU: Forum Melbourne, Mar 24
Brisbane, AU: Fortitude Music Hall, Mar 26
Tyagarah, AU: Byron Bay Bluesfest, Mar 29
Sydney, AU: Enmore Theatre, Apr 2
Sydney, AU: Enmore Theatre, Apr 3
Auckland, NZ: Powerstation, Apr 5
Wellington, NZ: San Fran, Apr 6
Wellington, NZ: San Fran, Apr 7
Hamburg, DE: Sporthalle, May 30
Berlin, DE: Zitadelle Spandau, June 1
Leipzig, DE: Clara-Zetkin Park, June 2
Prague, CZ: Žluté Lázně, June 4
Bratislava, SK: Stars Auditorium, June 5
Budapest, HU: Budapest Park, June 6
Cologne, DE: Palladium, June 11
Wiesbaden, DE: Schlachthof, June 12
Munich, DE: Zenith, June 13
Paris, FR: Salle Pleyel, June 18
