Biography
"161 on the national CMJ Top 200"
- CMJ - Issue #1091, February 23, 2009
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"an unsigned band with a self-released album that’s cracked national charts? That's something...a sweet, soulful sound."
- Adam Rathe - music editor, New York Press (5/09)
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"Soulful acoustic phenomenon..."
- Amy Matzke - music writer, The Roanoke Times (9/08)
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"New York City's Benyaro play the kind of introspective, deeply emotional acoustic music that fans of the form should swoon over. The harmonies are crystalline, the playing flawless, and the songs tight. In short it's an impeccable recording."
- Chris La Tray - music critic, Missoula Independent (8/08)
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"Indie acoustic soul..."
- Boulder Weekly (7/08)
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"The upcoming studio album from this Brooklyn-based acoustic folk/rock/Americana act invites comparisons to the glory days of CSN&Y (mainly due to their heavenly vocal harmonies...)
- Jim Reed - music writer, Connect Savannah (7/07)
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“His (Ben’s) amazing voice is the calling card of Benyaro …acoustic roots/folk songs with much feel, soul and emotion…a comparison to Ray Lamontagne comes to mind…splendid album.”
- Valère Sampermans - music writer, ROOTSTIME (Belgium, 5/08)
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"...not-so-secret weapon is the voice of multi-instrumentalist Ben Musser.....Musser sounds akin to a young Cat Stevens."
- Rick de Yampert - entertainment writer, The Daytona Beach News-Journal (2/08)
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"Relaxed, peaceful, and largely acoustic, benyaro sounds to be born less out of the smoggy subways and more out of the Smoky Mountains."
- Ryan Muldoon - music writer, Richmond Times-Dispatch (2/08)
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"Soft folky pop that grows on you...attractive, acoustic based songs that hark back to seventies soft country rock times...the sound is varied and their harmonies are reminiscent of the likes of Poco."
- Paul Kerr - music writer, Americana UK (1/08)
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"The modern folk sound of guitarist Ben Musser makes the feet tap and the voice hum."
- Sabina Dana Plasse - entertainment writer, Mountain Express (Ketchum, ID - 7/08)
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"a sophisticated blend of soul, folk and finely executed song craftsmanship, all the way through... There is a lot of energy in the music, it could easily go electric. Musser's playing is finely textured, the songs are well composed, and his voice is a confident vehicle for generally uplifting, pensive lyrics."
- Joel Weickgenant - music writer, Savannah Morning News (2/08)
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"From a truly underground (NYC subway) background, the uniqueness of benyaro, a folk-pop trio led by Ben Musser and sister, Meg Chamberlin, is the creation of songs with themes of idealism, mountains and stars, and a latent spirituality while keeping to a simple folk-pop format. Older listeners will recall memories of late 60's-early '70's country pop that one might see on TV. "Humble Child" is a fine introduction, with a sound comparable somewhere between a righteous Gram & Emmylou, and Three Dog Night."
- Dan Herman - DJ/podcaster, Radio Crystal Blue (11/07)
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It was 2004 and Ben Musser had just moved from Austin, TX to New York City looking to put together an act that had been ringing in his ears his whole life. Leaving behind projects as the drummer for Ross Flournoy (The Broken West) and Scott Claassen (Scott Claassen, The Broken West), Ben headed east where he knew only an artist manager and his sister, an accomplished singer.
Musser took a job with the artist manager and promptly discovered that working for their client, North Carolina troubadour, Malcolm Holcombe, would change his musical world forever. He jammed with Holcombe whenever he could and began studying his voice, his guitar playing and his songs. Along with these new influences, working for Holcombe armed Musser with connections in and a deep knowledge of the “roots” music business.
After meeting Holcombe, Musser began studying the voices of Wilson Pickett and Ray Charles and intensely working on his own. He was soon loaded with a strong voice, a new guitar-playing technique, and songs by Claassen, Flournoy, Holcombe, as well as some of his own. Now a frontman, Musser needed a bandmate. His sister was a new mom so Musser found upright bassist Tucker Yaro on Craigslist in the spring of 2005. They called themselves Benyaro.
Ben looked to his boss, the artist manager, for help. She believed he had a gift and told him they should hone their skills on the subway platforms. If they drew crowds consistently, they knew they had something. Drawing crowds came easier than Ben thought possible. Benyaro quickly became a favorite of the cops on the station beat.
Musser finally saw it was time to have his sister, Meg Chamberlin, step in with her sweet and powerful voice. The trio began booking in Austin, Nashville, Atlanta, Chicago, DC, Charlotte, Philly, Richmond, Charlottesville, etc. via word of mouth with no demo to hand to bookers or promoters. They became at once a critic’s pick and a crowd pleaser. Benyaro supported the legendary Malcolm Holcombe in Boston, NYC and in Johnson City, TN.
A year and a half later Benyaro saved enough money to record a self-released, self-titled debut album which is now available at shows, on iTunes, CD Baby and across the internet. The project is produced by Ben Musser and features the trio performing material written by Musser, Claassen, Holcombe and Flournoy. Team Clermont (White Stripes, Flaming Lips, Death Cab, Avett Brothers, Jose Gonzalez, etc.) helped promote the album on radio and on February 23, 2009 “Benyaro” reached 161 on the CMJ Top 200 chart, several spots above Ray LaMontagne, M. Ward, Medeski, Martin and Wood, and many other great, “signed” acts. The album continues to receive great press and airplay at stations across the country.
To promote the debut album, Musser spent 17 weeks on the road, solo, in 2008. Ben needed support on the road and upright bassist Bobby McCullough answered the call. He is now the upright bassist of Benyaro.
Benyaro just completed their most fruitful tour to date; 38 shows including 12 radio appearances across the SE USA in about 6 weeks…with Bobby, and Meg joined for 10 shows. Ben continues to tour solo until May/June 2009 when the band will perform dates in NYC and CA, then hit the road together again for a western tour.
Catch a gig. Enjoy quality live music and pick up their acclaimed CD. Add it to your collection of quality music. You will play it addictively.
Instrumentation
Ben Musser - lead vocals, guitars (mostly nylon string), kick drum, wurlitzer, drums
Bobby McCullough - upright bass, vocals, hi-hat, tambourine
Meg Chamberlin - vocals, shaker, tambourine
Discography
"Benyaro" (2007) - self released
-peaked at #161 on national CMJ Top 200 chart on Feb. 23, 2009, issue 1091.
-over 100 stations spinning across the country and in Europe
-Bullet-Like Belief, Far Cry from Here, Confessions receiving most airplay
-Long Shot, Humble Child, Feelin' Low also have spins reported each week
"Live on WUVT Radio" (2005) - self released
Links
| http://www.myspace.com/benyaro |