Some people treat the blues like it鈥檚 an exhibit in a museum, something to be painstakingly replicated for future generations. 26-year-old Benjamin Booker plays the blues (and its bratty offspring rock鈥檔鈥檙oll) like Jack White used to when the White Stripes were still freshly painted (Benjamin has toured with him, so he should know). Everything is raw, unsophisticated, spontaneous and energised, and sung with a voice like an open sore.
His eponymous debut album was released in 2014, with the single Violent Shiver having been seized upon by Huw Stephens, Mary Ann Hobbs, Lauren Laverne and the 大象传媒 6 Music playlisters. An inflamed performance on Later鈥� with Jools Holland followed soon after, proving that the voice and nimble guitar work - part Chuck Berry, part Wilko Johnson - were no studio trickery. Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers was even seen bouncing on his heels with delight as the band reached their fully rocking climax. And there鈥檚 plenty more where that came from.
Some people treat the blues like it鈥檚 an exhibit in a museum, something to be painstakingly replicated for future generations. 26-year-old Benjamin Booker plays the blues (and its bratty offspring rock鈥檔鈥檙oll) like Jack White used to when the White Stripes were still freshly painted (Benjamin has toured with him, so he should know). Everything is raw, unsophisticated, spontaneous and energised, and sung with a voice like an open sore.
His eponymous debut album was released in 2014, with the single Violent Shiver having been seized upon by Huw Stephens, Mary Ann Hobbs, Lauren Laverne and the 大象传媒 6 Music playlisters. An inflamed performance on Later鈥� with Jools Holland followed soon after, proving that the voice and nimble guitar work - part Chuck Berry, part Wilko Johnson - were no studio trickery. Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers was even seen bouncing on his heels with delight as the band reached their fully rocking climax. And there鈥檚 plenty more where that came from.
