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Jonny Lang Up there in the great white north, Minneapolis, the choices in winter are "ice-fishing or playing guitar," says Jonny Lang, and at age 13 he put down his fishing pole.
a veteran guitar-
slinger at 20
He's already spotted his
competition and is guiding
her along back
in MinneapolisBy Burl Burlingame
Star-BulletinAnd picked up a Fender Stratocaster. Now he's all of 20, a road-wise, veteran guitarslinger whose meaty blues licks have caused old pros like guitarist B.B. King and saxophonist Bill Clinton to yelp in delight.Yes, Lang recently played with B.B. at the White House.
Tonight, Lang and his band are playing Kakaako Waterfront Park, starting at 7 p.m. He's island-hopping.
Two concerts remain. Admission to either is $28: JONNY LANG
Oahu: 7 tonight, Kakaako Waterfront Park; with Bob Jones and the Hard Drive. Call 732-6699.
We caught Lang on Maui, having just played a concert on Kauai, where he said audiences were enthusiastic, and tomorrow he moves on to the Big Island.
He's had a couple of months of down time -- "Too much! I'm tired of spending my days snowmobiling around Minnesota" -- and is looking forward to tearing up the rest of country.
"There's nothing better than the give-and-take and energy of playing live," said Lang. "Since I never play anything the same way twice, and you only get one shot to do it right on stage -- one moment in time to affect people -- I really dig being in that clutch situation. Pressure, man."
He's graduated from the trusty Strat to a somewhat customized Telecaster, with "really old" -- we're talking 1970s vintage -- humbuckers. The body has also been hollowed out for a "throaty, full sound."
His amp is a new Fender Tonemaster. "It's loud, just the way I like it."
Even though Lang took naturally to guitar, it took him "a coupla years to get proficient. I like guitar because -- because it's what I can do, ha ha ha! -- no, because it presents best what I'm feeling, it gives a voice to the emotions.
"It's a kind of release when I play. It's definitely an extension of my voice, of what's in my mind, of what's going on musically. I don't think about it. It just flows, man. I'm flying by the seat of my pants."
Some of Lang's songs have already become standard covers for gigging bands across the country.
He says his musical style is "funky soul, from listening to Motown growing up," but admits his guitar-playing is solidly blues-based.
Songwriting is something in which he lets his fingers do the talking. "I get an idea, and play guitar, trying to get a melody fit in there. It works best when I'm really NOT thinking about it -- it just comes out of thin air, comes in and lands from out there, somewhere.
"The guitar just goes into that kind of place in my soul and unlocks it. I can't control it."
Since making his debut at age 16, Lang has toured constantly.
He dropped out of the 9th grade and regrets not earning his GED. "Not a good role model, huh?" he laughs. "But I sure didn't miss the social aspects of high school. I like what I've been able to learn on the road, and I'll get that GED someday."
Now that he's 20 and a veteran, is he looking over his shoulder for the new kid on the block?
"She's out there already. Shannon Curfman. She's 15 years old, and man, can she play guitar! She's part of our little music scene in Minneapolis, the biggest little music scene in America."
Yes, he's hung out with Minneapolis music legend Prince, and it wasn't while ice-fishing.
Playing with bluesmaster B.B. King was "the pinnacle of excitement for me, just incredible." Since King is in his 70s and still at the top of his game, will we be hearing Jonny Lang for another half-century?
"Long as the Lord wants me to play, I will," he said. "It's what I do."
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