Florida
Tomorrow
Lucky Dog
Happy Father's Day
I've Been Learning
So What?
Roofing Song
Daddy Too
Protection
Break Even
Too Long In The Tooth

Ben Stalets is not a songwriter; he's a song. Realizing he couldn't wash the Toledo off, Ben leaned into it. Inspired by the blue collar underdogs and anti-heroes the rust belt surrounds you with. Talking to Ben is talking to an old friend, and that's exactly how his songs are written and performed. As comfortable in a bar as he is in a listening room, by the 3rd verse of the first song, Stalets will have the room quiet enough to hear someone clutching their pearls, just before the refrain gives permission to laugh.
After almost a decade of songwriting and performing, it's your civic duty to catch Ben whenever he comes within 100 miles of your town.

Lucky Dog is 3 years in the making. A lot of these songs have been kicking around for a while and have become a standard in my live show for just as long. The album is as recognizable as anything I've released previously, but even more accessible. I make no bones about the subject and point (if ever there was one) of the song. These songs are about people I know or have been. There's nothing and no one glamorous; there'll all at the same bar on a Tuesday night like us. The sound was thanks to my band at the time, and Bunky Hunt who produced the album. My only direction was make sad songs sound happy and vice versa. As businesses were opening back up for the 2nd time during covid, my band and I got together regularly without an end goal. We were just having fun playing these new songs I'd been writing. It all just sort of happened and I'm really grateful we captured the moment, that's all I wanted.

Since Lucky Dog came together, just as organically my longtime buddy and lawyer Larry Meyer, started acting as my manager. I think he has been waiting a long time to tell me to stop pussyfooting around. Even more recently I've found a booking agent I'll be working with as this album comes out and we promote it. I've been in the game for well over a decade and this is as close as I've ever felt to having everything coalesce. That might be the first time I've used that word, coalesce. Feels kind of like a 25 cent word some slick might try and grease you with.
I just enjoy making songs and playing them for people who listen; but now I've got some help and I'm really excited for what that might look like. Either way I'll still just be doing songs in 10 years, hopefully a little better. I'm a lifer, sorry mom.

"These songs are about people I know or have been. There's nothing and no one glamorous; there'll all at the same bar on a Tuesday night like us."

http://www.benstalets.com
http://www.facebook.com/bennystalets
http://www.instagram.com/benstalets

Musicians
Willie Doremus - Bass
Drew Rochotte - Electric guitar
Kelly Rochotte - Drums
Brett Lucas - Electric guitar
Bill Sadley - Harmonica
Tamara Finlay - BGV
Dave Hadley - Pedal Steel
Evan Mercy - Keys/Organ

Lucky Dog was recorded in Detroit with Bunky Hunt producing and mixing it.