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
