Benjamin Booker and Olivia Jean played Sala Rossa (photos & review)

Benjamin Booker‘s set at Sala Rossa on April 1 showcased just how multi-faceted his music really is. Though often labelled with the “blues punk” tag, Booker’s hour-long set saw him tear through straight-ahead punk numbers like “Violent Shiver,” alongside a mournful soul ballad like “Slow Coming” with equal passion.

While he battled an unforgiving sound mix that resulted in feedback bleeding through every time he quieted things down, Booker did his best to pump up the crowd, including leading them into a rousing sing-along on the traditional “Li’l Liza Jane.” The crowd’s energy finally erupted into a mini mosh pit late in the set during “Wicked Waters,” which pushed one over-stimulated fan to whip of his shirt and start enthusiastically slam dancing.

With only one album under his belt, Booker knows how to put together a set list, building slowly over the course of an hour, before ending in a blistering finale that left the near-capacity crowd chanting for an encore that was not to be.

Opening the night was Nashville’s Olivia Jean, who offered up a solid set of mid-paced southern rock n’ roll with a 60’s pop sensibility. A late-set cover of Space’s “Female of the Species,” was a nice inclusion.

Below are photos of both Benjamin Booker and Olivia Jean, courtesy of Vitor Munhoz. Stay tuned for our interview with Booker in the coming weeks.

Benjamin Booker

Olivia Jean