Interview: Blues singer Jonny Lang queues up for Que Fest by Andy Odom

ROWLETT — Every decade has its wunderkind pop stars. For some reason, consumers cannot resist giving money over to children who sing and dance in public, and the entertainment industry can’t resist from taking that money. They’re usually short-lived fads, burning out long before they fade away (Billy Gilman), but occasionally they actually have talent (Little Stevie Wonder).
In the 1990s, two things happened that helped this phenomenon: Stevie Ray Vaughn died, leaving a vacancy for a young blues guitar-slinger; and Kurt Cobain died, making it OK for the record industry exploit people again. Out of this came Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jonny Lang, two incredibly young blues personalities that arrived at the same time, like two awkwardly similar Hollywood blockbusters that are released during the same summer. Both youngsters were known for their electrifying guitar work, but Lang was especially noted for his voice that was not just beyond his years, but beyond his century – deep throated, forceful, knowing, and only 16 at the time.
Many artists reach a point in their careers where they want to try something new; to break free from a label that’s been placed on them and explore their artistry on a larger scale. Given Lang's early start, one couldn’t blame him for wanting to branch out.

jonnylang.com

Jonny Lang and his band

“It’s a journey,” Lang told me recently. “I’m still trying to find my style.” This is understandable for someone who says his influences are as varied as James Taylor and, appropriately enough, Stevie Wonder. Lang's journey has seen his style slightly shift over five albums, from soulful blues to a gritty gospel sound. His most recent studio album, Turn Around, won the Grammy for Best Gospel Album in 2006, an honor that Lang did not expect. “It was a surprise to me because I wasn’t going for that,” Lang confessed. “I just considered it to be my next album, and it just happened to be where I was in my life at that moment.”
Lang’s current tour is in support of his recent Live at the Ryman album, a concert he calls “intimidating” – mainly for having to hold court in “Music City U.S.A.” in front of any number of possible luminaries in attendance. The tour should be less stressful, as it puts the audience in charge of creating Lang’s set-list every night. “My booking agent ... came up with the idea to have people write into the website and request what they want to hear,” Lang said. “It’s been really cool. It’s something different for the fans to be able to do.” And does it keep things from getting stale? “Yeah, definitely. We try to mix it up on our own sometimes too, but this helps,” he said.
In the meantime, Lang continues his musical journey as he works on a new album, which is still in its early stages. “I’m still trying to figure out which way this one’s going to go, you know?” he said.
The pitfalls of an open-ended musical quest aren’t lost on Lang. He knows the old adage about being a “Jack of all trades but master of none” is a double-edged sword – and exploration invites distractions. But enrichment comes through, and the journey itself can be more important than ever arriving.
So how will Lang know when he has arrived? “Maybe I never will.”
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