Tab Benoit’s first album in 13 years “I Hear Thunder” is a celebration of the Bayou inspired music he has championed since his debut in 1992. During the hiatus he created his own label and studio and has continued to perform legendary live shows . The high energy blues stomps have him returning with the force of nature.
Benoit has long been an advocate for the preservation of the Louisiana wetlands and taking steps to stop the coast erosion of the area where he grew up. The songs he has co-written with his long-time collaborator, Anders Osborne are all dripping with swamp land references and pleas for recognition of the condition of the area.
Besides Osborne, whose guitar is featured on every song alongside Benoit, they are also joined by the legendary bass player of the Meters, George Porter Jr. bringing the funk to three of the songs on the album.
With Benoit’s gravelly vocals and the twin guitar attack “I Hear Thunder” is a literal description of the fire he brings to these performances. 13 years is a long time to go between albums but the blues is a genre with a long memory and the fury of this southern blues rocker is something that can’t be forgotten.