Benjamin Booker, Rough Trade Records‰۪ exciting new signing, will release his debut, self-titled album through Rough Trade.
The album is produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray For The Riff Raff). Described as ‰ÛÏa well-mixed musical cocktail of punk, folk, and New Orleans blues,‰ Benjamin Booker cites his influences as The Gun Club, Blind Willie Johnson and T. Rex.
The young singer-songwriter plays as a two-piece with drummer Max Norton, both of whom are based in New Orleans.
Having already gained fans including Tame Impala, toured with Hurray For The Riff Raff and played a string of sold out shows in London, Booker and his drummer Max Norton have been hand-picked to open for Jack White on his US July tour, which will be followed by a series of summer US dates with Courtney Barnett.
‰ÛÏBenjamin Booker blasted a raw brand of blues / boogie / soul,‰ observed the Chicago Tribune‰۪s Greg Kot in his SXSW wrap-up. ‰ÛÏHe likes to leave the rough edges intact, bringing to mind the houserockin‰۪ records that Hound Dog Taylor once did for Alligator Records in the 70s.‰
American Songwriter said ‰ÛÏThe 22-year-old New Orleans guitarist / songwriter - joined live by drummer / mandolin player Max Norton - took the stage as an unknown and... stepped off the stage a conqueror.‰
‰ÛÏIt might look like just two people onstage but Benjamin Booker‰۪s voice surely counts as a band member in its own right. Soulful and sandpaper-rough...‰ noted The Guardian, while NME said ‰ÛÏhe takes the ripped, raw racket of The Dirtbombs and smothers it in fuzzy, inherently moody-sounding riffs that recall The Gun Club and T Rex in equal measure.‰åÊ