Son of Dave is the solo project of Benjamin Darvill, a Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Winnipeg, Canada, born in 1967. He is also known for his work as a member of the Canadian folk-rock band Crash Test Dummies, where he plays harmonica, mandolin, guitar and percussion. After leaving that group, he returns to solo work in 2000, centred on blues, beatbox and harmonica.

Style and performance

Son of Dave’s music combines beatboxing, amplified harmonica, foot-stomp rhythms and looped backing sounds. His live setup uses an old Astatic microphone for beatbox sounds, with harmonica and vocal parts layered into loops. The result is a one-man-band style rooted in blues, with elements of rock and indie.

Background

He grows up in Manitoba, Canada, and later moves to London, England in 1998, where he remains based. His father gives him a harmonica and shaker one Christmas, and he develops an approach built around harmonica, looping and beatbox performance. He is described as playing many gigs over a short period and supporting Supergrass on tour around the UK in October 2005.

Image and presentation

Son of Dave performs in 1950s-style gentleman’s clothing, including three-piece suits and a wide-brimmed fedora. His stage manner is presented as formal and old-fashioned, with an emphasis on courtesy and restrained behaviour.

Associated artists

He attracts support from a range of artists and broadcasters, including Grace Jones, Mark Lamarr, Jon Kennedy, Jools Holland, KT Tunstall and Supergrass. His work is positioned against mainstream guitar-led rock, with a focus on blues-based solo performance.