Jonny Lang’s Turn Around was one of my favorite albums of the 2000s. I went to the tour stop to support it at Knoxville’s Tennessee Theater and it blew me away. It didn’t include theatrics or even much stage banter, but just plenty of good guitar rock/blues talent. The publicist told me Jonny put on one of the best shows he’d ever seen. And he was right. It also didn’t hurt that we were given third row seats. Here’s a little video clip where I captured some of the talent.
I interviewed Jonny for Turn Around and I’ll always our discussion of Steven Curtis Chapman’s observation of him. “He said ‘here’s this guy who sings like an old blues singer and you look at him and he looks like he stepped out of an American Eagle catalog.” Jonny laughed and said, ” And you say that as I’m wearing my American Eagle cargo pants!”
Jonny’s new album, Fight For My Soul, releases in September. I think I may even like it more than Turn Around. It features a variety of styles but good, gut-wrenching vocals and music. “Breakin’ In” has a funky urban pop sound while the tender “All of a Sudden” has Lang going full falsetto. “What You’re Looking For” challenges the listener to consider his or her spiritual and emotional perspective and “I’ll Always Be” is a grand rock opera-type love anthem.
The lead single “Blew Up (The House)” is now streaming and I’d recommend it for a listen until you can get the whole album.
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