Artist description Ben Ratliff is a Brooklyn, NY singer/songwriter and producer who draws deep from the well of American roots music to craft a unique, lowdown sound. Ben explores the lives of the disconsolate, dispossesed and disenfranchised in his songs, surveying the darker side of human experience for indicators of the modern condition.

Music Style Lowdown Post Rock

Musical Influences Tom Waits, VU, Howlin' Wolf, Los Lobos, James Brown

Similar Artists Tom Waits, The White Stripes, Cowboy Junkies, Morphine, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Artist History Originally from Austin, Texas, Ben migrated to the West Coast and formed a surf-influenced rock band called Jones Trailer. He later formed the band Sexfresh with other SF musicians and eventually bounced back East to New York City. Ben also played drums with San Francisco's wacky Funkmobile.

Instruments guitar, voice, banjo, accordion, drums, bass

Albums Sexfresh -- The Fainting Room

Press Reviews Bunko* [aka, Ben] is their ingenious lead male vocalist, accordion, banjo, and guitar player whose voice is often compared to Tom Waits'... Bunko follows on track two, "Up Here" singing so smoothly it's as if he's undressing you with his voice. As I listened, shivers moved through my body. -- Lady Mia's Music on Sexfresh Think Cowboy Junkies with a black streak. -- ZDTV on Sexfresh

Location Brooklyn, NY - USA

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