Ben Gage delivers a song, "Lookin For A Devil," his fourth single in advance of a full-length release in September, is a raw, soulful look at traditional country storytelling, with a modern twist that might make you pause that scroll. This track is a saloon door swinging open on a modern cowboy's soul, half confession, half resistance. Gage isn't just in search of a devil; he's searching for meaning in a world that pulls him in every direction. Lookin for a Devil" is a warning shot and an invitation to anyone out there who still gives a damn about music.
"Lookin For A Devil" that threw out all these tried & true bullshit licks, but still feels the smack of sweaty velvet up against your pack of Marlboro's. Built on the bones of the idea that recording is about a great live take, and the dusty soul of old-school Americana, "Lookin For A Devil" is a vibe and a coat that has been lived in, worn down, that you pull on during that kind of day when everything is too loud. Gage's voice is all gravel and gravity, dragging us down into another place where the devil's knocking but, strangely, not answering.
"Lookin For A Devil" inverts the familiar story of a musician willing to sell his soul for success. But the fire and brimstone that Gage encounters is not the acceptance he expects, but something stranger: rejection. It appears the devil has left the house, or there may be too much noise, and perhaps hell has distractions now, too. Whatever the reason, the song's subdued genius resides in that subversion.
The production is intentionally rough around the edges, recorded in live takes and broken down into chunks, so that fantastic imperfections shine through. That approach underscores the urgency in the performances and provides an analogue to lyrical restlessness: the tension that mounts when your life is driven by music and the world keeps wanting more, faster.
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