Jonny Lang: Former teen phenom closes in on 40
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Jonny Lang, performing at Rose Music Center in Huber Heights on Friday, Aug. 9, is not yet 40 but he’s more than two decades into his career. The former teen phenom’s major label debut, “Lie to Me,” was released in 1997 when he was 15. It reached number 44 on the Billboard 200 chart and achieved multi-platinum status.
Lang, whose seventh solo album, “Signs” was released in 2017, recently submitted to a brief telephone interview.
How are those co-headlining dates going with JJ Grey & Mofro?
We’re at the beginning of it but they’re real cool guys to work with so it’s fun. The audiences seem to dig it. Some of the folks that go to his shows have been introduced to our music and visa versa so it’s working out really well.
When can fans expect a new album?
I’m starting to write songs and get a vision for the next one but I haven’t started recording it or made a schedule to. The approach to releasing music and how you’re going to do that seems to change every time I make a new record. You have to see every time what’s going on and make your decision then.
Do your fans still want a full album experience?
I don’t know. There’s a whole thing where there’s a big value in having snippets of information like EPs or whatever rather than a whole record. There’s still value in crafting a 10-song record but it’s kind of whatever anybody wants to do. Who: Jonny Lang and JJ Grey & Mofro with guest Marc Broussard Where: Rose Music Center, 6800 Executive Blvd., Huber Heights When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Cost: $23.50-$50 More info: 937228-2323 or www. ticketmaster.com Artist info: jonnylang. com Maybe the industry will make it impossible to make a regular length album but I hope not. I’m not a pro at following all of that stuff so I’m thankful I just get to pay attention to the music part of it.
Is there anything creatively you’d like to tackle as you enter your 40s?
I don’t know. I’m just trying to be with my family as much as I can but at the same make records and tour. I’m trying to balance all of that without losing sight of any one of those things too much. That’s pretty much my only goal.
The next Hendrix Experience Tour begins in October. What’s it like joining guitarists like Buddy Buy, Joe Satriani and Taj Mahal?
“It’s awesome, man. You get to be close to all these great guitar players and watch them as much as you want. As a guitar player, that’s pretty cool. A lot of us have made friends over the years so being on that tour is kind of like a reunion.”