Ben Fields at the Living Room

Ben Fields is among the many New York-based singer-songwriters playing the listening room circuit, even tonight when relatively few audience members braved a harsh winter storm. Music careers often begin modestly, and in his case, his first recorded song, “Summer Song,” was voted Rage’s Indie of the Week on ABC in Australia and his song “Swede” won a John Lennon Songwriting Award. The videos for both songs are on YouTube.

Back by a trio of musicians for the first time at the Living Room tonight, his collection of crisp modern folk songs were gripping. These songs were more engaging than the two songs at the end of his set on which he accompanied himself only with his acoustic guitar. Fields resumes his residency at the Living Room with performances on February 8^th and 15^th.