A singer and songwriter in Phoenix, Arizona, Benjie Messer offers uncensored, catchy musical takes on everything from love to politics and humor to heartbreak. He draws inspiration from irreverent wordsmiths and musical storytellers like Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Jesse Welles. A veteran performer and bandleader, Benjie is the driving force behind Bad Cactus Brass Band, which has toured the southwest, released four albums, and performed at hundreds of festivals, arts centers, music venues and private events.

Benjie also keeps Phoenix UU’s singing at the music director at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix. In the past, he’s played trombone with countless bands, led singing at protests (as in the photo above), taught music at local colleges, composed for independent film, and done all kinds of odd musical jobs.