Christian Music Online

Jonny Lang Emerald Queen Casino Gospel

July 10, 2008 – 12:36 pm

Jonny Lang picked up a guitar for the first time when he was around 12 or 13 years old, after his father had taken him to see one of the few local bands in Casselton, N.D. He soon began taking lessons from the lead guitar player of the band, and in a little more than a year the 14-year-old was headlining the same band of guys, who were all in their twenties, calling themselves Jonny Lang and the Big Bang. The band wasted no time moving to Minneapolis and becoming one of the region’s hottest acts.

At 15, Lang got a major record deal, and at 16 he released the critically acclaimed “Lie To Me” album. The 1997 album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s New Artist chart and critics raved about his poise and maturity.

From those precocious beginnings (at 17, both B.B. King and Luther Allison had joined in the chorus of praise for Lang’s blues playing and singing – and he was opening all over the world for King, the Rolling Stones, and Aerosmith) he has survived the enormously fragile cycle of pop stardom. Now, at 27, Lang comes to Tacoma following the release of a collection of gospel-oriented songs in “Turn Around,” to some critics a far cry from his blues roots.

But if it is one thing Lang has shown in his 14-year career, it’s that working hard in the trenches, playing lots of shows in small venues and out of the way places will earn you a loyal and far-flung fan base.

Lang’s fourth major-label CD, “Turn Around” has risen to the top of Billboard’s Christian album chart, and earned him a Grammy nomination for best rock or rap gospel album.

His latest sound is the culmination of what might be seen as exponential life changes over the past few years and, though it reflects a fresh music style that revels in complete freedom, is an eclectic layering of blues and rock and gospel.

Lang, on previous albums, has sung, played guitar and done some of the writing. But on his new album he is more involved by writing, co-producing and performing all the songs.

He is gratified to have taken this step because, for the first time, he feels true to himself, he has said in talking about this tour.

“Yeah, like when I listen to a Stevie Wonder record, he is a virtuoso – obviously a singer and musician – but when you listen to his records it’s kind of more,” he said recently. “If it were just him singing it wouldn’t be as great of a masterpiece. It is about the record as a whole. I just want to be more of a listener’s musician than a musician’s musician.”

For his own part, Lang says he’s simply trying to express himself spiritually a la Johnny Cash or Bono, rather than chalk up converts or win brownie points with evangelicals. His loyal listeners, Christian or not, have nothing to fear.

“I know the record lyrically touches on some sort of gospel stuff, but I don’t consider it a gospel record,” Lang said. “I really don’t know what category it is. I guess probably soul music.”

Even though Lang considers it his most satisfying project, this mix of 1970s soul, funk, rock, blues, ballads, bluegrass and churchy organ has turned off some old fans “because it wasn’t bluesy enough,” he said. However, he says he’s finding new, younger followers at his concerts, probably from the Christian-music community.

The idea for the album actually came from the head of A&M Records, Ron Fair, who produced Lang’s “Long Time Coming” in 2003 as well as hits for Black Eyed Peas and Christina Aguilera. One day in the studio, the executive told Lang to go gospel and “just be who you are.”

Lang will perform live at 8 p.m. July 11 at the Emerald Queen Casino.

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