Downstate Darlings w/ Benjamin Wagner

Celebrating Rockwood Music Hall’s 15-Year Anniversary!

In twenty-some years performing in New York City, singer/songwriter Benjamin Wagner has been called a lot of things.

Entertainment Weekly called him a “fuzz-guitar blast." R.E.M. front man Michael Stipe dubbed him a “future superstar.” Legendary WFUV DJ, Vin Scalsa, described him as "extraordinary." And New York Press described him as "Ryan Adams without the attitude, John Denver without the glasses, and Dave Matthews without the dance moves."

While difficult to describe, maybe, Wagner's straightforward, easy-to-hum melodies and memorable choruses are easy to appreciate.

Reference his new album, "Great Lakes" -- his first collection of original songs since 2008's "The Invention Of Everything Else." From the soaring strings of the expansive title track to the punchy "Anytime, Anywhere" and the synthy, spacey "Lucky All The Time," Wagner's songs are anchored the solid strum of his Martin DC-15 acoustic guitar, and plaintive tone of his Midwestern tenor.

Downstate Darlings are an alt/pop/rock band hailing from the Empire State. Drawing inspiration from the golden era of modern rock, the band's sound merges the crunch of early 90's DGC records with the melodic sensibilities of earlier New Wave-rs like Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson and Squeeze.