Former Jonny Lang Band will Reunite for One Show
Minneapolis—Former Jonny Lang backing band “The Big Bang” will reunite for two shows in October. The group will perform Saturday, October 24, 2009 at Bunkers in Minneapolis.
The group was Lang’s original backing band from 1994 through 1997, moving with Lang from Fargo to Minneapolis in 1995. They performed nationally and recorded one album with Lang titled “Smokin’,” which has sold over 200,000 copies. With Lang the group was voted “Best Blues Band” at the 1996 Minnesota Music Awards.
After splitting with Lang the group continued to perform regionally until disbanding in June of 1998. In that time, they recorded and released one album titled “Easy.” With the exception of a reunion with Lang in July of 2000, the group has not played together since disbanding.
The core members of The Big Bang include guitarist Ted Larsen (Lang’s first guitar teacher), Ted’s brother Michael Rey Larsen on drums, and bassist Jeff Hayes. After the band’s breakup, Ted Larsen went on to play guitar with seminal Minnesota blues band Lamont Cranston until 2008. Jeff Hayes relocated to Austin, Texas and toured globally with Bernard Allison, son of Blues legend Luther Allison. Michael Larsen went back to school, eventually earning a degree in marketing and an M.B.A. from Concordia University, St. Paul. He has worked as a marketing professional for area companies for the past ten years and currently lives in Edina with his wife and twin daughters.
Hayes said, “A high school reunion and a friend’s wedding brought me back in touch with Ted and Michael. We realized how much fun we used to have together. For us the reunion really started then and these shows are the capstone to that experience.”
The reunion shows will also feature post-Lang front man Michael James. James’ vocals, guitar, and songwriting were a prominent feature on “Easy.” Michael Larsen said, “Once the three of us [Larsen, Hayes, and Larsen] decided we were going to do this, the first thing we all agreed on was that we wanted Michael James to be a part of it. We all love his voice and guitar playing.”
The Big Bang was part of a wave of musical artists and groups that came from Fargo in the early to mid-1990s to have a significant impact on the Minneapolis music scene – including Jonny Lang and The Big Bang, a cappella group The Blenders, Shannon Curfman, The Keller Brothers, and Wallace Hartley and The Titannics.
The opening act for the evening with be Creamy Delicious of Minneapolis.
Michael Rey Larsen, Teddy Larsen, and Jeff Hayes are available for interviews.
CONTACT: Michael Rey Larsen
The Big Bang
Phone: 952-929-1982
Email: mhlarsen@usfamily.net
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