Benyaro

Bio:

..

"Good Day Better" now available at Benyaro shows!.. "Musser, McCullough and Chamberlin deliver the folk gospel according to Benyaro, a crunchy granola, campfire hoot of a sound endowed with warm tunes and tight harmonies, launching instant sing-alongs. As their new album promises, makes a "Good Day Better."" - Jonathan Takiff - music writer - Philadelphia Daily News (6/10) --------------------------------------------- "Sounds like early-period acoustic David Bowie but with an Americana twang." - Bryan Skowera - WESU 88.1 FM - Middletown, CT (4/10) --------------------------------------------- "the album emanates a striking, authentic grace. Badass songs like the title track and "Dogs" make me feel like doing brave things... You can hear in his voice the same soulful, raspy confidence that makes [Malcolm] Holcombe so appealing." - Erika Fredrickson - A&E Editor - Missoula Independent (8/10) --------------------------------------------- "An incredibly warm album, enveloping the listener in nostalgic reminiscense, like everything that made early Tom Waits so good. Inflections of '60s country-rock, trip-hop, and broken-beat minimal techno combine in surprising ways." - Robert Parker - Music Director, KBGA 89.9 FM - Missoula, MT (4/10) --------------------------------------------- "Acoustic soul-pop and folk come to mind on Benyaro’s energetic sophomore release, Good Day Better, which displays Musser’s unabashed, emotive vocal flights and a strong chemistry with Bobby McCullough" - Aaron Davis - music critic - Jackson Hole Weekly (7/10) --------------------------------------------- The Story of "Good Day Better" Brooklyn based acoustic roots/soul band, Benyaro, follows up its self-released, self-titled, nationally charting (CMJ) debut album with “Good Day Better”. The album dropped March 24 in New York City. Recorded in Charlottesville, Virginia and New York, New York in the brutal winter of 2010, “Good Day Better” features Ben Musser’s strongest offering of original material to date and classic songs penned by Scott Claassen, Malcolm Holcombe and Diana Jones. “Good Day Better” unpredictably explores and expands the boundaries of acoustic music offering 12 tracks ranging from gospel, folk, country, rock, blues, and soul to beatboxing/house. The songs are inspired by family, places, pets, lovers and draw on the emotions that exist from engaging in such relationships. Such sentiments are unequivocally reflected in Musser’s vocal performances which overflow with feeling while the beautiful, vulnerable, yet occasionally stern vocals of Meg Chamberlin perfectly offset the masculinity of Musser’s and Bobby McCullough’s voices. In a time when name dropping who worked on your record seems more important than the sounds and songs on it, “Good Day Better” was produced by Musser, Benyaro founder, instrumentalist and primary writer, in a way that utilized the uniqueness of the group. For the first time the sounds and influences of upright bassist and back up vocalist Bobby McCullough can be heard adding to the sound that is Benyaro. The new collaboration between Musser and McCullough produced extraordinary arrangements and a multi-dimensional album with the potential of appealing to millions of listeners hungry for new music. The engineering of Jamal Millner, (Charlottesville area musician/producer) and Gar Ragland (New York City area producer/musician) helped to further create an environment of independence from formulaic approaches to making music. Tony Shimkin (Noble Music) and Musser mixed the album with the same principles in mind. In the end we are left with “Good Day Better”, a truly independent album that makes a strong case for acoustic music in a period dominated by electric sounds, imitation and one-dimensional ideas. “Good Day Better” attempts to create music for today, contrary to numerous Brooklyn-based acts who are hoping to re-create music of the past. Genuine artists have a responsibility to move art, in this case, music, forward… and not backward to an era that is gone. Respecting listeners by offering them something new and unique while simultaneously treating them to touches of familiarity along the way was a constant concern and goal of Musser’s. One can hear such ideals when listening through “Good Day Better.” Team Clermont hears this. The selective independent radio promoters from Athens, Georgia who work with The Avett Brothers, Jenny Lewis, REM, David Byrne, Low Lows, Magnetic Fields, Rachel Yamagata, Punch Brothers, Tobias Froberg, and many others chose to work with Benyaro and help get “Good Day Better” to more listeners via radio. Relix Magazine is also on board with Benyaro's unique indie-acoustic soul sound and will feature them as an "On the Verge" artist in their December 2010 holiday issue. In the Spring and Summer of 2010, Benyaro performed to hundreds of eager, newly inspired fans across the country from New York to Seattle, San Francisco to New Orleans, and everywhere in between. They continue to tour in support of “Good Day Better” performing at prep-schools and universities in the east. 2011 will bring an even heavier year of touring. Their live show is filled with singing and the same chances they take in the recording studio, though they replace the drummer (Musser) by assigning their limbs responsibilities of hihat (McCullough), shaker and kick drum (Musser), and sometimes tambourine (Chamberlin). Musser and McCullough will tour mostly as a duo as they did in 2009, closing for The Avett Brothers, sharing the stage with Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers, and opening for Jill Andrews of the Everybodyfields, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Dangermuffin. It has been said you’ll never hear as much sound come from 2 people as you will when you hear them perform together. Head out to one of Benyaro’s many shows this fall and listen to what people are talking about. .. .. Our debut album is available now at ..CD Baby.. and ..iTunes.. "161 on the national CMJ Top 200" - CMJ Issue 1091, February 23, 2009 --------------------------------------------- "thoughtful acoustic music...Musser’s voice is a strange amalgamation of Cat Stevens and Axl Rose, all quivery and emotive and gravely at once...[Musser's] throaty tenor dives right into the pseudo-scream without sacrificing a bit of clarity." - Ryan Snyder - music editor, Yes! Weekly (Winston-Salem/Greensboro, 10/09) --------------------------------------------- "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) --------------------------------------------- "Soulful acoustic phenomenon..." - Amy Matzke - music writer, The Roanoke Times (9/08) --------------------------------------------- "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) --------------------------------------------- "Indie acoustic soul..." - Boulder Weekly (7/08) --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- "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) --------------------------------------------- “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) --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- "...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) --------------------------------------------- "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) --------------------------------------------- "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) --------------------------------------------- "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) --------------------------------------------- "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) --------------------------------------------- "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) 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 National 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. But, Ben needed support on the road and upright bassist Bobby McCullough answered the call. He is now the upright bassist of Benyaro. So far in 2009, Benyaro has performed over 90 shows including 20 radio performances and "on-airs" to hundreds of fans across the country. They have closed for The Avett Brothers, shared the stage with Ramseur Records recording artist Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers, and will open for Jill Andrews of The Everybodyfields (Ramseur) this fall before performing at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. This winter, Benyaro will record its anticipated second album, independently, and hopes to reach even more fans than its debut. 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. Review by Jim Reed-Connect Savannah July 2007 .... CD Review by Rick de Yampert

Member Since:

December 28, 2005

Members:

Management and booking inquiries: Ben Musser benyaromusic@gmail.com

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Ben Musser / guitars, voice, drums/percussion, wurlitzer, harmonica
Robert MCullough / upright bass, voice, hi-hat, tambourine

the commonwealth

Meg Chamberlin / voice, shaker, tambourine
Scott Claassen / songwriting, piano
Doug Finnegan / dobro, guitar
Alicia Gelernt / business consultant, mentor
Will Porter / graphic design
Patrick Pressley / cello
Susan Fuller / violin
Lindy Donia / violin
Al Hicks / drums
Arran Jacobson / photography
..Katherine Keltner / photography
Adam Johnson / dobro
Laura Jensen / voice
Camille Obering / voice, percussion, consulting
Tucker Yaro /upright bass, voice
..

Influences:

Scott Claassen, Ross Flournoy, Buena Vista Social Club, The Beatles, The Jayhawks, The Eagles, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Malcolm Holcombe, Darrell Scott, Paul Simon, and so many more...

Sounds Like:

magic...plain and simple

Please contact these stations who have been charting/spinning us and request you some Benyaro!...

Alabama:
 Auburn- WEGL

Alaska:
 Nome - KNOM

Arizona:
 Tuscon - KAMP
 Tuscon - KXCI

California:
 Arcata - KHSU
 Berkeley - KPFA
 Berkeley - KALX
 Claremont - KSPC
 Long Beach - KBEACH
 Los Angeles - KRCW
 Riverside- KUCR
 Rohnert Park- KRCB
 Sacramento - KXJZ
 San Francisco - KALW
 Santa Barbara - ..KCSB
 Santa Clara- KSCU
 Santa Cruz - KZSC
 Stanford - KZSU
 Turlock - KCSS

Canada:
 Guelph, ON - CFRU
 London, ON - CHRW
 St. John's, NL - CHMR

Colorado:
 Alamosa- KRZA
 Carbondale - KDNK
 Crested Butte - KBUT
 Ft. Collins - KCSU
 Ft. Collins - KRFC
 Telluride - KOTO

Connecticut:
 Fairfield - WVOF
 Middletown- WESU
 Storrs - WHUS
 West Hartford - WWUH

D.C.:
 Washington - WGTB
 Washington - WVAU

Delaware:
 Newark - WVUD

Florida:
 Ft. Lauderdale- WNSU
 Gainesville - WGOT
 Orlando - WPRK
 Tampa - WMNF

Georgia:
 Athens- WUOG
 Atlanta - WRAS
 Atlanta - SCAD ATL Radio
 Savannah - SCAD Radio
 Valdosta - WVVS

Hawaii:
 Hilo - URH

Idaho:
 Lewiston - KLCZ

Illinois:
 Chicago- WXAV
 Glenview - WGBK
 Lake Forest- WMXM
 Springfield - WUIS

Indiana:
 Valparaiso - WVUR

Iowa:
 Ames - KURE
 Cedar Falls - KUNI
 Iowa City - KRUI

Kentucky:
 Lexington - WRFL
 Louisville - WFPK

Louisiana:
 Monroe - KXUL
 Ruston - KLPI
 Shreveport - KSCL

Maine:
 Brunswick - WBOR
 Waterville - WMHB

Massachusettes:
 Lowell - WUML
 Medford - WMFO
 Wellesley - WZLY

Michigan:
 Kalamazoo - WIDR
 Marquette - WUPX

Minnesota:
 Minneapolis - KFAI
 St. Paul- KCMP

Missouri:
 Kirksville - KTRM
 St. Louis - KDHX
 St. Louis - KWUR

Montana:
 Bozeman - KGLT
 Missoula- KBGA

New Jersey:
 Ewing - WTSR
 Glassboro- ..WGLS
 Hackettstown - WNTI
 Piscataway - RLC

New Mexico:
 Las Cruces - KRUX

New York:
 Annandale-on-Hudson - WXBC
 Bronx - WFUV
 Hamilton - WRCU
 Ithaca - WICB
 Ithaca - VIC
 Oneonta - WONY
 Rochester - WRUR
 Rochester - WITR
 St. Bonaventure - WSBU
 Stony Brook - WUSB
 Troy - WRPI

North Carolina:
 Boiling Springs - WGWG
 Dallas - WSGE
 Greensboro - WQFS
 Raleigh- WKNC
 Spindale - WNCW
 Winston-Salem - WAKE
 Winston-Salem - WFDD

Ohio:
 Bowling Green - WBGU
 Cinncinati- Bearcast Radio
 Dayton - WDPS
 New Concord - WMCO

Ontario:
 Thunder Bay - CILU

Oklahoma:
 Norman - WIRE

Oregon:
 Astoria - KMUN
 Eugene - KWVA
 Portland - KBOO

Pennsylvania:
 Allentown - WMUH
 Millersville - WIXQ
 Nanticoke - WSFX
 Philadelphia - WXPN
 Philadelphia - WKDU
 Pittsburgh - WPTS
 Pittston - WVIA
 Wilkes-Barre - WCLH
 Wilkes-Barre - WRKC

Rhode Island:
 Providence - WDOM

South Carolina:
 Clemson - WSBF
 Columbia - WUSC

Tennessee:
 Johnson City - WETS
 Memphis - WEVL
 Murfreesboro - WMTS
 Nashville - WRVU
 Sewanee - WUTS

Texas:
 Dallas - KNON
 Fort Worth - KTCU
 Houston - KPFT
 Marfa - KRTS
 Nacogdoches- KSAU
 Richardson - Radio UTD

Utah:
 Ogden - KWCR

Virginia:
 Blacksburg - WUVT
 Charlottesville - WTJU
 Charlottesville - WNRN
 Harrisonburg - WEMC
 Harrisonburg - WMRA
 Harrisonburg - WXJM
 Lexington - WLUR
 Richmond - WVCW

Vermont:
 Burlington - WNCS

Washington:
 Olympia- FRO
 Seattle - KEXP
 Walla Walla - KWCW

Wisconsin:
 Milwaukee - WMSE

Wyoming:
 Afton- KUWA
 Buffalo- KBUW
 Casper- KUWC
 Cody- KUWP
 Douglas- KDUW
 Gillete- KUWG
 Green River- KUWZ
 Jackson - KHOL
 Jackson - KUWJ
 Laramie/Cheyenne- KUWR
 New Castle- KUWN
 Pinedale- KUWX
 Rock Springs- KUWZ
 Sheridan- KSUW
 Sundance- KUWD
 Thermopolis- KUWT

Internet:
 Harris Radio - Brooklyn, NY
   www.harrisradio.com

 Radio Crystal Blue - Brooklyn, NY
   cblue456@optonline.net

 Sirius Satellite Radio
 The Coffee House
http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/Channel/RequestASong&cid=1126670694840

 XM Radio - The Loft
 http://www.xmradio.com/help/emailus.xmc?ch=50

Record Label:

Mohinga Music