Barefoot Surrender, 'Gal Who Made You Strong' // GemsOnVHS™

We went up to Kentucky, visiting with Ben and Ashley at their home. It just so happened that the Resonant Rogues, Keith & Sparrow, along with Jason Odea, were in town as well. Well, what do you do when you have 4 out of 5 members of the legendary folk-punk group Barefoot Surrender? You have them play a grand reunion performance live in the Baird distillery whiskey cask room, of course. Shout out to Baird for letting us crash their retired school turned Kentucky's premier new whiskey making facility. Great people, great whiskey honestly. Yes we tried some of the stuff in the casks.

Our undying love and gratitude go to our executive producers for making this project possible: Brad Sirois, Mitchell Davis, Keith McQuillan, David Jameson, Lisa Galvan, Irvin Maddox, Josh Collins, Brady Jones, Julie Nestoroff, VJ Arizpe, and Rusty Shackleford.

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GemsOnVHS is a long running series of intimate, off-stage performances by songwriters we love.

[alexrobinett]

I’ve listened to all the barefoot surrender and spit shine stuff and it’s awesome seeing them back together again

[GONARUTOSONIC]

ive been listening to barefoot surrender for like the past several weeks just on loop. I only just discovered them and i adore them.

[justgonnasendit]

Man is this a crazy moment never thought I'd hear this band again. Definitely going back on repeat now

[Pasiego]

Barefoot Surrender coming back for a little tour and adding some in between songs like O'Dea and Goodbye Brother would be amazing.

[ejeamon]

so glad to see these guys back together. you guys at Gems are doing gods work. this is the channel that got me into lost dog and so many others.

[prikarsartam]

I am from India. I will positively visit Ben Tod and Jason Dea personally. I love your music a lot. It makes me feel stable.

[lordmonokelhans]

I just love how in every GemsOnVHS Video theres always this little part before the actual song where the artists just tell something about themselves or the song. The way Ben says "very bad night", damn thats just so raw and full of life. This channel always sparks joy.

[sethmountain]

A beautiful moment--feels mature, sad, happy, all at once.

[pokeemann]

a NEW barefoot surrender video? Shit I was having a really really bad day until now. Thanks guys.

[averagesteel]

Hoo-boy… Heard every song the band played in the past, feels like a hazy dream-come-true to hear them again!


Tone of the song was definitely more tempered, the brash high-strung arrogance of youth clearly missing from the song, which just shows how far every single one of these people have come in their own lives, and just how much they’ve matured. It’s beautiful to see, and I appreciate Gems for showing off such treasures.

[BRXINBUSTER]

Makes me happy seeing them all play together again :, )

[gabbypostma]

we need more Barefoot Surrender in the world

[snaiil.]

watching that old recording of them in Colorado then going to see this new one is just crazy. where'd all the time go? RIP Nicholas Ridout

[BobLoblongEsq]

Been following Ben for over 15 years, through every band he’s been in, from Chris and Ben to blackheart rebellion to Barefoot to SpitShine, to teardrop trio and Lost Dog. I’m so proud of how far he’s come, and I can say without a shred of doubt Ben Tod is the greatest living songwriter on this continent, maybe even the world

[MattStrom]

Wow. Yall this is amazing. So much a dream to see these folks together. Don't need that time machine after all. Thanks all who made this happen. It made an old man happy.❤

[lucasfolk]

I got to work for my best friend for the last year of his life (battling cancer) and I introduced him to Lost dog, Jason Dea west, Nick Hans. But out favorite was barefoot. This song, sky was burning red, and raven were our favorites… any way thanks, it littlest bring a tear to my eye thinking about it, made a lot of good memories turning wrenches for him listening to these guys and his old story’s from when he was my age. Thanks and keep up the amazing work

[riotinwalmart]

I remember wondering into johnny bs in medford oregon and seeing these guys play on a random weeknight and being super impressed. They hung around for awhile and i got to see them play a few more times in 2011 before they split. Getting older is weird but so awesome to see them go on and continue to grow and get bigger.

[caden]

Goosebumps. So cool to hear a live barefoot surrender song in 2023!

[NathanErtznerMusic]

Absolutely amazing, the fact that they're all together and so different from who they used to be, yet still close is incredible.

[AlexanderJohnson]

easily my favorite barefoot song. Thanks Anthony and everyone!