You sing your song while sittin' at a red light

Yesterday morning I had one of the best surprises. I was invited to go see Jonny Lang at The Troubadour do an acoustic show. Seems my friend's friend couldn't go and gave her all 4 tickets. So not only did I get to see Jonny, but I got to see him do an acoustic show, AND I got to see him for free. These are all good things. VERY good things.

If you're not familiar with The Troubadour, it is a very famous club in Hollywood. Let me be more specific - it is a VERY TINY very famous club in Hollywood. EVERYONE has played there. Yes, literally everyone. It's also where I "ran into" Philip Seymore Hoffman *sigh, my love* a few years ago, but that's a story for another time. Any spot you stand is a good spot, no matter what. The fact that it was at the Troubadour meant that it was gonna be a good show, no matter what the music was like. Turned out the music was good, too.

Keri Noble opened up the night. Good singer. So-so material. Really, she was just filler and she admitted it. Not a bad way to pass the time.

If you read my post on the last time I saw Jonny, then you would recall a certain rather crazy girl in the crowd. Well, our friend was in Hollywood last night, and in rare form. Thankfully she was far enough away from us where we could laugh at her without her having any idea.

Jonny's set was absolutely amazing. The band sat in a semi-circle most of the night, except when the drummer was a little off to the side at his mini kit. Great vibe, as you could watch them all play off each other, instead of the typical set up with the lead singer up front, and everyone else... everywhere else. We were about 4 people deep a little off to the side. I got to see all of Jonny's creepy faces he makes up close and personal. At one point, he came over to the keyboard which was on the side I was standing. He was shaking people's hands between songs, having dialogue with the crowd. It was awesome. Such a great club.

He's got an entirely new band with the exception of his bass player. Not sure what sparked this huge change, but it was great. I'm a huge fan of bands changing things up a little and doing acoustic sets and this band was absolutely amazing. Everyone looked to be about 12 years old, but played like they were old pros. It would be interesting to see what they were like plugged in.

Jonny has made a few life changes recently, most notably of which is that he became a Christian a few years ago. It's been reported he was sick of the booze, the drugs, the empty life he felt he was leading. He made his first record when he was 15 and started touring immediately after with the biggest names in blues and got caught up in that life like most do. So he has now chosen to follow Christ, and it's showing in his music and his demeanor. I've been a fan of his since way before we began to believe the same things, so it only makes me like him more now that he's been bold about his faith and is now starting to sing about it. His new material is really incredible and positive (I guess he's not technically a "blues guy" anymore then, huh?). He did all the old favorites and also did a few covers: James Taylor and Stevie Wonder. Also did an old gospel song that had everyone clapping along and singing about God.

The Troubadour doesn't have any rules against photography last night, so I happily snapped away. Here are some pics from the evening. Good times.


I just liked this pic


A view of the set up for the night, minus the keyboard player who is not in the shot on the left. Look closely and you'll see the beginnings of a scary face.


Keyboard player who is actually the electric guitar player who is doing double duty on keys and lap steel. Pretty sure he's 12, and he has probably the best posture of anyone I've ever seen.


Jonny on keys, singin' his little heart out.


Well done, boys. Take a bow.