Jonny Lang

Lang may be special "for his age" but he told POLLSTAR he is sick and tired of hearing about the fact that he is "only" 16 years old. His debut stage moniker was Kid Jonny Lang but he quickly dropped the "Kid" because he didn't want his age to be the focus. Yet it remains. Lang is continually called a guitar god in the making. However, it is obvious with one listen to his prowess on the axe that the "in the making" part wouldn't be needed if it weren't for his age.

As Lang's phenomenal guitar playing and equally impressive powerhouse voice hit the radio, video and television waves, people across the country are starting to realize what many in the Midwest already know; Lang is the bomb. His hard-hitting delivery coupled with searing guitar and hardy vocals have earned him a tour of Hard Rock Cafes, an opening slot with B.B. King and soon, Lang and his band will support Aerosmith on its upcoming tour.

Lang started out playing the guitar as most young boys do, jamming along to his favorite songs. But Lang didn't start with the blues. The first song he learned was a Stone Temple Pilots tune. That was when he was in the sixth grade. But after the then-12-year-old went to his first real concert and saw the Bad Medicine Blues Band perform, he was floored by the genre. He was also very impressed by the band's lead guitarist, Ted Larsen. "I was really inspired by the guitar player and started taking lessons from him. And that's pretty much how it all went down."

Lang's decision to play the blues wasn't really one made in the mind. He said playing the blues just felt better. Something clicked right away, Lang said, and he knew that was the type of music he wanted to play.

While other junior high kids were scampering for the latest Pearl Jam CD, the Fargo, N.D., native holed up in his bedroom learning chords and studying the works of America's 12-bar greats to prepare for his next lesson with Larsen. A few months after starting those lessons, Lang joined Larsen's band, Bad Medicine, as the frontman. The group was renamed Kid Jonny Lang & The Big Bang and they became quite popular in the Midwest. The Big Bang still performs, now with a new vocalist, and Larsen sat in on the recording of Lang's A&M debut.

The label is taking a slow-but-steady approach in introducing Lang to mainstream music audiences. That developmental plan seems to be working. The record has gone gold and Lang's concert schedule is already at the hectic stage. Touring is hard work and often exasperating but Lang said he is having a blast.

When asked what type of tours he'd be interested in doing, Lang said it doesn't really matter. He just wants to stand on stage and play. Performing is key for the young musician and as long as he continues to get that opportunity, he'll be grateful. Helping provide those opportunities for Lang is his responsible agent, Garry Buck, at Monterey International.

Lang won't express touring preferences and he won't put down any aspect of his career. "I wouldn't dare complain about anything because so many good things are happening," he said. But he did admit he was looking forward to doing something of the magnitude of the Aerosmith tour. "It's just the opportunity to do something with those guys. It's really cool." When asked what other artists he'd like to tour with, the soft-spoken Lang simply said, anybody. "There's so many to pick from," he said. "Oh jeez. Eric Clapton. Sting." If things proceed as they have, the young guitarist may just get the chance to do whatever he wants.

One of the biggest highlights of Lang's touring career was getting to play with Buddy Guy. Lang said he isn't treated as some young upstart by established musicians. Rather, he gets great vibes from old school blues guys – and great advice. The best advice he's ever received is to just "keep on keepin' on."

If there's one thing Lang does complain about, it's having to spend his days waiting to perform. When asked what he does while waiting, Lang said in an almost Bevis and Butthead tone, "Like, I sit in hotel rooms." Another thing that seems to bother him is being treated special because of his celebrity. A recent "teen-sensation" photo shoot for Seventeen magazine was embarrassing for Lang. "I mean, if I wasn't a musician, it wouldn't have been embarrassing. It was really fun and everything but it was just like … I don't know … I don't want to be a commercial," he said. "I'm not going to be doing that stuff anymore."

Lang is managed by James Klein and Miki Mulvehill of Blue Sky Artist Management. And his father, Jon Langseth, travels to all the gigs, lending a hand to Klein and Mulvehill.