Ben Musser to showcase new album at Home Team BBQ

Ben Musser is bringing a new chapter of his music to Aspen this week.

The singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who spent years performing as part of Benyaro, returns Thursday in support of “Sentimental Fever,” his first solo album. He will perform in a duo, with Walker Young sharing the record’s roots-to-rock sound in a free, all-ages show from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 13 at Home Team BBQ, at the base of Buttermilk.

“We’re so excited to welcome Ben Musser and Walker Young to Home Team BBQ Aspen on Thursday,”  Becca Knox, director of Marketing for Home Team, told The Aspen Times. “We can’t wait to have them together in Aspen for a fun night of live music, BBQ and good times.”

The set will pull from both musicians’ catalogs — songs they wrote together and tracks from Musser’s new solo record. Musser will sing and play guitar, in addition to operating a kick drum, hi-hat and shaker. Young will play keyboards and accordion, sing his own songs and harmonize.

Prior to his solo debut, Musser was the lead vocalist with Benyaro for two decades — an indie-roots project he started in New York in 2005 after busking in the subways. He moved to Jackson Hole, Wyo., in 2008 — where he continued singing and playing guitar under the band moniker on four albums. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Musser learned bass and keyboards, which ultimately led him to record his own record.

“Over COVID, I learned to play bass and keyboards enough to be able to record those in the studio, so when I went to record those songs, I recorded it all myself,” Musser said. 

“Sentimental Fever,” released May 1 with Blackbird Record Label, is an 11-song album mixing indie soul with rock and roll. It was co-produced with Grammy-winning musician and producer Scott Mathews, whose credits include work with The Beach Boys, Mick Jagger and Van Morrison. The album was mastered by Jeff Lipton. 

The collaboration with Young stemmed from a chance meeting in 2021, when Musser and Young met while floating down a creek with friends.

“All of a sudden, we decided that we needed to get together and jam,” Musser said. “It was the first time I had gotten together with someone to make music that was just for fun and not practicing for a gig or something.” 

Young, known for his roots-rock and Americana, has also toured with Truth & Salvage Co., which opened for the Black Crowes and The Avett Brothers. 

Aspen is not a random stop for Musser. Growing up in Lancaster, Pa., Aspen was one of the first places where he was introduced to the Rocky Mountains and the Mountain West. As a teenager, he returned to Aspen to play drums and guitar in his father’s band, Cruise Control, playing several gigs around town that included a wedding.

“I also got to ski during the spring,” Musser added. 

Family still ties him to Aspen. His uncle Jack, a former Aspen real estate broker and longtime local, plans to attend the show with his wife, Judy, and their son David.

For more information, visit benmusser.com/about and hometeambbq.com/happenings.