Jonny Lang's winter tour continues to grow

Bluesman Jonny Lang, who last fall released his first new album in five years, plans to keep his in-progress tour rolling for weeks to come.

Lang has extended the run into early March. Included in the handful of March dates is a two-night stand at the House of Blues in New Orleans. Tickets for most shows are on sale now.

In October, Lang released the aptly titled "Long Time Coming," which is the follow-up to his critically acclaimed 1998 album, "Wander This World."

"Of course the title is about how long it's been since I've had an album out, and it's pretty much about trying to be patient," Lang said in a statement. "The album is really a journal of my life for the past two years."

Lang went on to say that the new album bears his personal stamp more than his previous works.

"On albums past, my involvement musically was singing, playing guitar, and writing here and there," he said, "but on this one I have been able to co-produce and write every song as well. At first I didn't know if I was ready to take that step, but I'm glad I did because for the first time I feel like this is the 'real me.'"

Lang credits co-producer Marti Fredrickson (Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, Faith Hill) with helping him reach that outcome.

"It was incredible how well we worked together," Lang said of his co-producers. "It was pure chemistry. I felt like he made me more of myself and for the first time, I felt like this is the 'real me.'"

Lang's website is streaming four songs from "Long Time Coming": "Red Light," "Dying to Live," "Beautiful One" and "Give Me Up Again."

In 1997, Lang gained notoriety with his major-label debut, "Lie to Me." Critics frequently noted that the then-teenage artist possessed an unexpectedly mature-sounding vocal delivery.