"Rodé à l'école des musiciens de rue, ce freluquet roux impose en concert
une dynamique capable de mêler le souffle abrasif d'un harmoniciste comme
Little Walter au groove salement funky de James Brown."
In LE MONDE
"Benjamin Darvill aka Son of Dave's third album finds him somewhere between the White Stripes, early Beck and a 1930s bluesman who was supposed to be at the crossroads but got waylaid in the pub. Presenting old-time twangs within a modern, urban production, Darvill can grunt like Tom Waits, falsetto like Mavin Gaye and play better harmonica than Bob Dylan. A wonderfully minimal, funky version of War's Low Rider and his own songs, such as Roller Boogie, suggest a man with hedonism, not blues, weighing upon his soul. But the lack of emotional wallop is made up for by a sense of fun. During Hellhound, Darvill even starts panting and slobbering like a dog - not something often said about Robert Johnson." Dave Simpson, The Guardian
"Son Of Dave is a force of nature. Touring the globe with just a harmonica, a microphone and a stack of 45s for company, this one man band has become one of the most entertaining live performers in the world. Mixing up blues, hip hop and dance into a dizzying brew, it's nigh on impossible to resist the temptation to shake a leg when he's on the mic. There's no doubt he'll go from strength to strength"Tim Noakes (music editor) Dazed & Confused
"Hollering one-man blues sensation Son Of Dave is so refreshing, he should be employed by designer water companies across the globe to lend aural dynamic to their advertising campaigns." FACT Magazine
Son Of Dave features on the excellent "Pick Your Own" compilation put together by his label mates The Mules.
Sounds Like
Son Of Dave and Jon Spencer on stage in Rouen, France.
How often does it happen that you go to a gig and are completely mesmerized by the performance? These days it can seem like we've seen and heard it all before. That is not the case with Son Of Dave.
So it happened that one night in 2002, I went to the 12 Bar Club in London, more to meet a friend than to listen to o.k. singer/songwriters. All went as expected unti Son Of Dave took the stage. I was captivated at first by the way he looked. He was decked out in a three piece suit from the 1950s, two-tone brogues and a hollywood tie. His expression humble, until a grin told us there was a dark sense of humour that the Devil himself would be scared of.
Son Of Dave started his set with Mannish Boy... He sang in a high squeaky voice, telling us all ‚I’m a Man!’. In his left hand he worked a shaker, slow and sexy. In his right hand held a harmonica picked up by an old Astatic microphone and ratty vox amp, making the sounds that dissappeared in the early sixties...
Suddenly he starts humming the bass and drums! Not just doing the hip-hop beat-box routine, but breathing and moaning the rhythmn... stomp on the foot pedal and the beat was captured and looped. He sung again, dropping his voice down two octaves while this primal loop played on. Howling and growling, the tune climaxed with setting his harmonica on fire. I was a fan.
My first instinct was that I wanted to work with him and try to capture this unique vibe on record. I invited him to the studio to guest on the Martina Topley Bird album ‘Quixotic’, which we were making at the time. He mumbled something about hating Fulham and taking the tube, but eventually gave me his number.
A few months later we started recording this album, ‘O2’. Capturing the essence of his sound, this record represents him as a musical milestone and will hopefully help to make him the idol he deserves to be.
He’s played over 200 shows on four continents and I’ve seen many of them. Still enjoy every one. The word ‘legendary’ is reserved for men like this.
Alex McGowan, producer of Son Of Dave's O2 album.
'Old times were good times' shiny new music video
Hellhound - Later with Jools Holland
Devil Take My Soul - Live on French TV
Professional enquiries or curious folk should go to the website at: http://sod.ward404.com
Manager Charles Kirby-Welch: charles@kartelcreative.co.uk
Live booking agent Sinan Ors: sinan@elasticartists.net
The enchantment is all mine. Saw ur rather inspired, if slightly technically troubled gig at teh Roundhouse in London a few weeks ago. Was a pleasure to c u live after a few years of appreciation. Wud b honoured to work with u one day. Hope ur enjoying the current 'tour' etc. Haha More kids toys for instruments!! Tom
