Blues rocker Benjamin Booker has announced his first album in seven years, Lower, which was produced by frequent billy woods/Armand Hammer collaborator Kenny Segal (following Booker’s appearance on Armand Hammer and Kenny Segal’s “Doves” last year). It comes out January 24 via Booker’s own Fire Next Records and Thirty Tigers (pre-order), and first single “LWA IN THE TRAILER PARK” is a pretty seamless fusion of fuzzed-out blues and Kenny’s hip hop-style production. Check out the song and its Gerry Cisneros-created video below.

“I wanted to get to this sound, but I didn’t know how. At some point I decided I’m going to find it or die trying,” Booker says. “Kenny was the missing piece I needed–he fills in all of my gaps. I don’t know what I’ll do next, but if I can imagine it, I can do it now.”

About the video, he adds, “I felt particularly connected to Paul Schrader’s work making this album. Like several of his movies, I wanted to look at a troubled character on the edge, reaching for transcendence. Now that I’m working on a series of connected videos, Schrader has had an influence in that arena as well, along with Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samourai and Charles Burnett’s Killer of Sheep.”

Benjamin and Kenny have also announced a tour together for 2025, including two shows at Brooklyn’s Public Records, February 25 and 26. All dates are listed below.

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Tracklist
BLACK OPPS
LWA IN THE TRAILER PARK
POMPEII STATUES
SLOW DANCE IN A GAY BAR
SPEAKING WITH THE DEAD
REBECCA LATIMER FELTON TAKES A BBC
NEW WORLD
SAME KIND OF LONELY
SHOW AND TELL
HEAVY ON MY MIND
HOPE FOR THE NIGHT

Benjamin Booker — 2025 Tour Dates
2/2 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar *
2/4 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room *
2/5 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room*
2/6 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel *
2/8 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios *
2/9 – Seattle, WA – Madame Lou’s *
2/10 – Boise, ID – Neurolux *
2/11 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge *
2/13 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theatre *
2/15 – Omaha, NE – Reverb Lounge *
2/16 – Minneapolis, MN – Turf Club *
2/18 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean *
2/19 – Detroit, MI – Magic Bag *
2/21 – Toronto, ON – Longboat Hall *
2/22 – Montreal, QC – L’Esco *
2/23 – Boston, MA – Crystal Ballroom *
2/25 – Brooklyn, NY – Public Records *
2/26 – Brooklyn, NY – Public Records *
2/27 – Philly, PA – Kung Fu Necktie *
2/28 – Washington, DC – Union Stage *
3/2 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy *
3/3 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5 *
3/5 – Nashville, TN – 3rd and Lindsley *
3/7 – New Orleans, LA – Siberia *

* with Kenny Segal