RADAR: Jamie N Commons

British born 23-year-old Jamie N Commons soaked up some American-style blues and rock when he lived in Chicago for eight formative years, moving back to England at 16. Influenced by swampy southern gospel, the songs of Tom Waits and the dark bluster of Nick Cave, Commons serves up his own brand of down-home grit and spit with his debut U.S. EP Desperation Blues (February 26, Interscope), a sampler of new songs and tracks from his 2011 U.K. EP The Baron.  Released to coincide with his American tour opening for Lianne La Havas (dates below), Commons' bristling, bruising songs like the "The Preacher" - an explosive track about a murderous minister - and "Now Is Not the Time" simmer with raw, coiled tension. With a raspy voice that sounds like his larynx has been slow-smoked and basted with a whiskey glaze, Commons drags "Time" from dusty ballad into a towering display of distorted guitar reverb and ominous bass rumblings, a gospel tent hymn re-imagined for a smoldering power trio. Stream "Time" below...

Jamie N Commons - 'The Preacher'

Jamie N Commons - 'Now Is Not the Time'

U.S. Tour Dates (Opening for Lianne La Havas)

17-Mar  Dallas, TX HOB Cambridge Room Tickets
20-Mar  Los Angeles, CA El Rey Tickets
22-Mar  San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall Tickets
24-Mar  Seattle, WA Crocodile Tickets
25-Mar  Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge Tickets
26-Mar  Vancouver, BC Rio Theatre Tickets
29-Mar  Boulder, CO Boulder Theater Tickets
31-Mar  Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater Tickets
01-Apr  Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall Tickets
02-Apr  Detroit, MI The Magic Bag Tickets
04-Apr  Toronto, ON Opera House Tickets
05-Apr  Montreal, QC Corona Theater Tickets
06-Apr  Boston, MA The Sinclair Tickets
07-Apr  Philadelphia, PA World Café Live Tickets
09-Apr  New  York, NY Webster Hall Tickets
12-Apr  Washington, DC 9:30 Club Tickets
13-Apr  Columbus, GA The Loft Tickets
14-Apr  Nashville, TN3rd and Lindsley Tickets