Article Contributed by Calabro Music Media
Published on 2026-03-12
For more than a decade and a half, Burlington, Vermont-based guitarist and songwriter Bob Wagner has been a secret-weapon sideman, lending his licks and leads to some of the tightest live acts in the Northeast. Today, with the announcement of his debut solo album, I’ve Been Down, due June 12 via RPF Records/Royal Potato Family, Wagner is stepping into the spotlight.
This by no means indicates that he’s giving up his role as an in-demand, ace guitar-slinger. He, in fact, heads out on tour as one of two guitarists with Phish bassist Mike Gordon’s solo band throughout March. However, the move to release his own music has been a long time coming. While deeply at home during international tours with Josh Panda, or during his foundational stint with Kat Wright and her enchanting retro soul unit, Wagner was often approached by fans curious about where to find his own work.
“A pretty regular thing that happens at shows is I end up doing a song or two on lead during the night,” Wagner says. “After the gigs, people were always coming up to me asking where they could see my band.”
I’ve Been Down captures Wagner confidently stepping into the role of songwriter and bandleader. The album was recorded at The Studio Nashville — home to sessions by artists like The Wood Brothers, Seth Walker and Steve Poltz.
The album’s sound reflects the influences of heroes and inspiration such as Kat Wright, The Wood Brothers, Sturgill Simpson, while remaining rooted in Wagner’s rich storytelling. The sessions were blessed with Nashville magic when Laur Joamets, Simpson’s Telecaster-playing fireball, dropped by to add guitar to three of the album’s tracks, and Oliver Wood and Jano Rix of The Wood Brothers were additionally enlisted.
The ten-track collection’s first single, “Sad and Lonesome” (listen/share) is out today. Also the album’s opening track, Wagner croons like a broken-hearted cowboy while the band whips up a dose of psychedelicized country funk — accentuated by a swaggering solo from Joamets — that’s more Memphis than Bakersfield.
With I’ve Been Down, Wagner may be stepping forward under his own name for the first time — but the record carries the weight of experience, friendship, and musical spirit built over years of sharing the stage.
I’ve Been Down
Track Listing:
1. Sad and Lonesome
2. Good Night and Good Luck
3. Richest Man On Earth
4. Universe Is Calling
5. I’ve Been Down (featuring Oliver Wood)
6. Jesus, Coffee Etc.
7. Dear Depression
8. Daniel
9. Duende
10. Fly Away
On Tour as Guitarist with Mike Gordon:
3/13 – Woodstock, NY – Bearsville Theater
3/14 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony
3/15 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
3/17 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
3/19 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
3/20 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl
3/21 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
3/22 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
3/24 – Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre
3/26 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
3/27 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
3/28 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
3/29 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
3/30 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
Bob Wagner – I’ve Been Down is out June 12 via RPF Records/Royal Potato Family on classic black vinyl and digital formats. Available for Pre-Order/Pre-Save at: https://orcd.co/ivebeendown
