On the foot of his latest album release, Carried In Mind¸ veteran blues and roots and roots musician Jeff Lang will be playing local indie haunt Jive Bar alongside special guests Jordie Lane and Suzannah Espie.
The album, recorded in a makeshift studio in Lang’s own home, is his fifteenth. Surely having such an extensive back catalogue must make touring a bit of a chore? ‘It can be!’ says Jeff.
‘It’s difficult to pick songs. There are always groups of songs that fit into a certain spot each night that put across a certain type of mood or emotion, songs that will lift a set up, showcase light and shade and different dynamics. But there’s so many songs that can fulfil those roles and you can’t play all of them, otherwise you’d be up there for hours and hours’
Jeff assures that a decent number of tunes from Carried In Mind will get the spotlight ahead of Friday night’s show. ‘We’re trying to include as much from the newest recording as possible, you just need to try and find which older songs will work well around that.’
Having formed a band in 1991, he soon left to pursue a solo career, a ‘purely instinctive decision’ he says, and one he’s never looked back from. His success is evident; Jeff Lang remains one of Australia’s most loved blues and roots musicians, and albums Native Dog Creek, You Have To Dig Deep To Bury Daddy and Dislocation Blues were voted best Australian Blues Albums by Rhythms Magazine, with an ARIA win for Best Blues and Roots Music Album in 2002 to cap it off.
Despite his disdain for commercial music, Jeff assured me that radio stations have surprised him as of lately.
‘I was in a taxi listening to Nova recently, and amongst all the… crap, for a lack of better word, this Gotye song came on and I thought, ‘Wow, a song on the radio with completely original production and a great chorus, this must be that song that everyone is talking about!’. I was pleasantly surprised’
Jeff Lang plays Jive tonight, with limited tickets available through www.moshtix.com.au
Doors open from 8pm
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