This month's edition of 'My Favorite Guitar' spotlights honky-tonk hero Tony Lang
(Each month, The Times asks a prominent local guitarist to tell us about his or her No. 1 favorite guitar).
Local music fans love Tony Lang.
One of the Beaver Valley's busiest guitarists, Lang brings the twang to Tony Barge & The Honky Tonk Heroes, an old-school country-western band that averages two shows per weekend.
On a night when the Honky Tonk Heroes are taking a break, chances are good you'd find Lang strumming blues or rock 'n' roll at an open mic jam session, or hopping on stage as a guest musician with a fellow six-string slayer like Billy Evanochko.
A tireless supporter of the Beaver Valley arts scenes, Lang and his wife, Becky, have a front-row subscription for Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center musicals, and are always seated front-and-center for the Cabin Fever Music Series at Beaver Station Cultural & Event Center.
The son of musicians, Lang's guitar playing has entertained Beaver Valley audiences since the early 1980s, dating to long-gone but cherished venues like The VIP Club in Baden, and Morry's Speakeasy in Rochester Township opening for regional luminary B.E. Taylor. Back then, Lang played a Gibson Les Paul Artisan guitar he still owns.
"They we some great time for a 16-year-old kid and I was lucky enough to travel when I was in the Army to play a lot of places, but my favorite was Buddy's Place in Myrtle Beach," Lang, of Freedom. "But I feel the best is yet to come with The Honky Tonk Heroes."
A few years ago, Lang joined Barge's Honky Tonk Heroes, a seasoned group that's become such a popular draw, the Rochester Smokehouse & BBQ named a sandwich after the band.
More:What's cooking: Tasty meal named after popular band
All this and more makes Lang a great choice for this month's My Favorite Guitar. Here's what he says about his go-to instrument, which he purchased in 2021:
My favorite guitar ...
My JL Custom guitar.
It's my favorite because ...
It's a tribute to my two favorite guitar players ? my dad, who always played telecasters, and Roy Buchanan. I had it built for me. It's lightweight but packs a punch. JL Customs are in Butler.
The most memorable place I've played it ...
My favorite memory was on July 23, in Ellwood City, when we played at the park and the mayor gave Tony Barge his award. The crowd was awesome.
See me and my guitar together again ...
Local September show are Sept. 2 at Spanky D's (Restaurant & Boat Yard Bar in Bridgewater); Sept. 3 at the Long Branch Saloon in New Brighton; Kendrew's in Aliquippa on the 9th; Freedom Car Cruise on the 17th; Wooley Bully's in New Brighton on the 23rd; and Celebrations in (Findlay Township) Sept. 30.
More:My Favorite Guitar: Dan Bubien
More:Cheryl Rinovato: My Favorite Guitar
Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: My Favorite Guitar ... shines a spotlight on Tony Lang of Freedom
