St. Louis-formed cult legends celebrate 50 years with career-spanning creativity and upcoming Australian tour debut
Fifty years after their debut LP Pampered Menial briefly made them darlings of the 1970s progressive rock scene, cult legends Pavlov’s Dog have returned with Wonderlust, a new album that proves these musical veterans still have plenty to say.
Released on Ruf Records, Wonderlust arrives as the band celebrates the legacy established by their 2024 career-spanning retrospective box set Essential Recordings 1974–2018. The new 11-track album showcases what the band calls “exceptional creativity” built on intelligent songwriting, top-flight musicianship, and the dramatic flair that has defined their sound across five decades.
Originally formed in St. Louis, Missouri in the early 1970s, Pavlov’s Dog created a unique blend of rock, classical, and folk music that turned them into cult legends. Their initial success was fleeting – the hit “Julia” brought them brief mainstream attention, but by 1977, the original lineup had dissolved.
Lead singer, guitarist, and main songwriter David Surkamp kept the creative flame alive, eventually reuniting with fellow founding member Doug Rayburn to record Lost In America in 1990. However, the band’s true second chapter didn’t begin until after 2000, when a talented group of next-generation musicians joined Surkamp to carry the legacy forward.
The current incarnation of Pavlov’s Dog has actually outlasted the original band. Singer Sara Surkamp, violinist Abbie Steiling, bassist Rick Steiling, and keyboardist Mark Maher have formed the core lineup alongside founder David Surkamp for the past seven years – longer than the original group stayed together.
This stability has coincided with a new wave of interest in progressive rock that has allowed the band to tour regularly. In a significant milestone, Pavlov’s Dog will make their Australian touring debut this October in support of Wonderlust.
The new album demonstrates remarkable depth and vision across its 11 tracks. Opening track “Anyway There’s Snow” features Abbie Steiling’s violin prominently, while the strings-soaked “Another Blood Moon” exemplifies the band’s signature musical melancholy and includes what may be Surkamp’s most gripping vocal performance on the album.
Despite their progressive tendencies, Pavlov’s Dog remains fundamentally a rock band. Hard-driving tracks like “Mona” and “Collingwood Hotel” provide powerful moments, while “Jet Black Cadillac” transforms from wistful beginnings into an upbeat anthem of escape.
Progressive rock fans will find particular satisfaction in the album’s second half, especially the instrumental showcase “Calling Sigfried,” written by Abbie Steiling, which highlights the band’s collective musical brilliance.
The album concludes with three collaborative tracks between Surkamp and his late former songwriting partner Doug Rayburn. “Canadian Rain” particularly captures the adventurous spirit of 1970s progressive rock with multiple tempo changes and an unexpected electric slap bass solo.
Wonderlust presents Pavlov’s Dog as a group that has learned from five decades of experience while maintaining a creative well brimming with new ideas. David Surkamp’s vocals remain as strong as ever, proving that experience can enhance rather than diminish artistic vision.
With a new album that balances their progressive rock roots with mature songwriting and an upcoming international tour, Pavlov’s Dog demonstrates that good music, like the band itself, never truly goes out of style.
For review copies and interviews, contact the band through their official social media channels: facebook.com/pavlovsdogband/ and instagram.com/pavlovsdogofficial
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