Fifteen albums and a thousand shows later, Jeff Lang is as humble a virtuoso as you are likely to meet. Speaking the morning after an “illustrious gas station car park” gig in the Isle of Man, Lang is quick to shrug off well-worn adjectives like “pioneer” and “innovator”.
His contemporaries and followers might tell a different tale. The truth is his tireless touring and consistent stream of “disturbed folk music” has helped shape a four-lane highway for the likes of John Butler and Co to ride on.
It would be easy for him to hang up the capo and reflect on a career well done. Yet judging by his upcoming national tour and the quality of his latest LP, Lang isn’t ready to stop plundering the asphalt just yet.
Most vital to Lang’s longevity in the industry is his enjoyment of the songwriting process. He holds no expectations, no set template in which to populate his art. It is a philosophy that transmits seamlessly across stage and studio.
“It doesn’t really matter if my songs twist and turn in different directions,” Lang explains. “I feel confident I’ve got my own way of speaking through the music. If I know it’s not working I’ll either work at it until it feels genuine or simply not put it out.”
His new album Carried In Mind treads a similar path. Wielding its way from the suburban hauntings of ‘Mama, Why You Holding Back Now?’ to the John Fogerty inspired romp-stomp of ‘Frightened Fool’, Lang exudes a style that is at once instinctive and unpredictable. Along with the backing of regulars Grant Cummerford (bass) and Danny McKenna (drums), the LP also benefits from the addition of pedal steel whiz Garrett Costigan.
“He is an extraordinary player, a real poet on the instrument,” Lang says. “On the album there’s a song called ‘Towards Love’ and he sat there for three and a half minutes before he played a note. You’d think that maybe it was an overdub because he’s not playing anything until the chorus but then he comes in with something that sounds like a bird from Heaven.”
It is artists like Costigan, as well as others such as Liz Stringer and Jordie Lane (who is also touring with him), that gives Lang an optimistic perspective of the talent coming into the industry. It is a belief that is complimented by a thriving and populated blues and roots scene. He is, however, quick to point out that such artists – including himself – should not always be slated under the category of “Australian blues and roots”.
“These sorts of terms end up meaning something based on association with certain types of things,” he says. “If someone hears the term ‘Australian roots music’ they might think of a certain thing, like a slide guitar. There are elements of roots in my music, maybe more on some songs than others, but it doesn’t necessarily picture the exact thing I do.”
Aside from his current tour of England, Lang will be venturing home for a series of shows in September and October. It is in a live setting where the range of his virtuosic talents are fully realised. Although predominantly noted for his wizardry on the slide, Lang is equally adept at just about anything he touches. He is one of the few – almost in the Michael Hedges mould – that makes you wonder how the hell he is creating so much simultaneous sound on the one instrument.
Joining him for the Carried In Mind tour will be Jordie Lane. In many ways Lane embodies Lang; a humble soul whose gift for metaphor and storytelling spellbinds and bites when you least suspect. Lang has also hinted a duet or two with the young crooner will feature among their shows.
“Me and Jordie have thrown around the idea of writing a song for the tour,” Lang says. “There’ll also be a lot of new material from the record and some older songs. We’ll have to see if we can pull out a cover version or two as well.”
It seems odd to say that an artist who has been in the game for over twenty years is still peaking. Lang though, like his songs and live shows, often provides an exception to the ‘musicians always peak early’ rule. There’s little doubt his fans will be warmly anticipating the coming chapter of an already influential career.
– Paul Bonadio
Catch Jeff and his band playing songs from ‘Carried In Mind’ during September & October with support from Jordie Lane.
* Suzannah Espie also appearing as support
Carried In Mind National Launch Tour Dates:
September 2011:
Saturday 17 – Mecca Theatre, Warburton Ph: (03) 5966 4500
Friday 23 – The Vanguard, Sydney – www.thevanguard.com.au
Saturday 24 – The Basement, Sydney – www.thebasement.com.au
Sunday 25 – Lizotte’s Newcastle – www.newcastle.lizottes.com.au/live/
Thursday 29 – Kinross Woolshed Hotel – www.kinrosswoolshed.com.au
Friday 30 – Tathra Hotel – www.tathrahotel.com.au
October 2011:
Saturday 1 – Great Southern Blues Festival, Narooma – www.bluesfestival.tv
Sunday 2 – The Street Theatre, Canberra – www.thestreet.org.au
Friday 7 – Jive Bar, Adelaide – www.jivevenue.com
Saturday 8 – Fly By Night, Perth – www.flybynight.org
Sunday 9 – Indi Bar, Scarborough, WA – www.ioh.com.au
Thursday 13 – Republic Bar, Hobart – www.republicbar.com
Friday 14 – Caravan Music Club, Melbourne * – www.caravanmusic.com.au
Saturday 15 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne * – www.cornerhotel.com
Sunday 16 – Way Out West Blues Club, Williamstown, VIC * – www.wowrmc.org.au
Friday 21 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore, QLD – www.solbar.com.au
Saturday 22 – Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane – www.judithwrightcentre.com
Sunday 23 – Mullumbimby Civic Hall, Mullumbimby, NSW – www.kupromo.com.au
Friday 28 – Waves, Wollongong, NSW – www.towradgibeachhotel.com.au
Saturday 29 – The Clarendon, Katoomba, NSW – www.clarendonguesthouse.com.au
Sunday 30 – Sydney Blues Festival, Windsor, NSW – www.sydneybluesfestival.com.au
