Though singer/songwriter Mark Wagner may be a long way from Montana, he is coming back home Saturday to Knoxville’s own New City Café. The concert will celebrate the new release of his second album as a solo musician.
Born and raised in Maryville, Tenn., Wagner has played the stage since his freshman year of high school. As a young man, he grew up listening to a wide range of music.
“I’m a huge appreciator of all types of music,” Wagner said. “My sister is actually a professional opera singer, so I grew up in a house just really appreciating the classical side of music.”
Having played the stage all his life, Wagner sees this as the strongest aspect of his musicality.
“My live show is definitely my strength,” he said. “I’ve been playing concerts since freshman year, so I’ve had a chance to develop it. I grew up in the jam band era, with Dave Matthews leading the way. You sort of have to pay your dues, you know. And in a sense, I still am.”
In recent years, Wagner has played at a host of venues, including colleges, coffee houses, night clubs, and churches.
“The largest crowd I’ve ever played is a couple thousand people,” Wagner said. “And the smallest crowd I’ve ever played is my parents. I’m not kidding, driving to Charleston, South Carolina to play for my parents.”
Though his live show better displays his virtue as a musician, it was his first CD, entitled “While I’m Here,” that projected his career from local singer to nationally acclaimed artist. This has even enhanced his business as a Nashville-based musical producer. Yet, his acclaim has not stopped him from coming back to his east Tennessee roots for the release of the second record, “A Long Way From Montana.”
“Knoxville is kind of my stomping ground,” Wagner said. “It is where my biggest following is, and the New City has been part of my life since high school.”
And sure enough, there are plenty of Mark Wagner fans excited about the release concert.
In a recent review of Wagner’s new record, New City Café’s own Kenny Woodhull stated, “I especially appreciate (Wagner’s) ability to have fun with the gifts that have been given to him — taking yourself or the gifts too seriously equals vanity in the entertainment world. (Wagner’s) guitarist rocks.”
Norman Rivera, an engineering major, is also excited about the concert.
“His music sounds pop-ish, but there’s an element of other types of music,” Rivera said. “There’s one that’s even salsa. He just has a very wide variety of styles and sounds like a mix of all the bands I like. And he’s able to express himself honestly within the message of the music, but it’s simple enough to understand.”
As an artist, Wagner’s message is also important to him. He is a Christian with strong ties to the religion, but Wagner tries to include everyone as his audience.
“I’m a Christian, and that’s where a lot of my inspiration for my songs comes from,” Wagner said. “But I don’t want to be put into that contemporary Christian music category. I know that turns so many people off, and my goal, ultimately, is to be encouraging to other people. I would hope that my music would connect to people.”
While not obviously spiritual, Wagner’s music does have a universal understanding of the love and happiness for which everyone strives.
“I want to make the audience feel like they’re experiencing something complete,” Wagner said. “There’s a lot of crappy stuff going on outside, and I hope that my (music) would offer a message, a message of hope, a message of encouragement, and that kind of thing. And the best way for me to do that is write and sing songs. Offering something more to others, that’s what it’s about for me.”
Wagner has much more to offer in the future. Over the next few years, he hopes to take all the major cities in stride and to produce a record at least once a year. For now, however, Knoxville has the release concert to anticipate.
“I wanted it to be really fun,” Wagner said. “I know there’s a deeper message to the music, but I want it to also put you in a good mood.”
The fun starts at 8 p.m. Saturday at the New City Café in Knoxville’s Old City.
