Pokey Lafarge at the Troubadour
By Russ Allsup
I had the pleasure of going to see one of my favorite musical artists on July 24th at the Troubadour in Hollywood. That’s the night that Pokey Lafarge came to town to play to a sold out crowd. I walked in to the Troubadour, the venue where Elton John made his U.S. debut and is chock full of music history, to the sweet sounds of Quiet Life. The trio laid down some down home, laid back sounds that went down like a smooth drink- tasty as hell. Americana with shades of mellow and upbeat both, but all full of melody. Very good stuff that the crowd was diggin’ and groovin’ to. Keep on the lookout for these guys.
Next up was Third Man Recording artist Pokey Lafarge. It was a sold out show, and you could just sense that it was going to be a good one. The air was blasting, but it was so packed that the walls were covered with moisture, and there was that indescribable vibe in the air of something really special about to take place. I love most all styles of music, but my favorite era of music is between 1920 and 1950, so Pokey’s songs are hit me right in the heart. His songs are best described as a mix of Dixieland and jazz with a bit of blues thrown in for good measure. He and his band can go from a quiet solo acoustic lullaby to a full-blown party jig at the drop of a hat. It truly reminds me of what you would have heard if you had stepped into any bar in New Orleans in the 1930’s, and his music is so easy to get lost in and hypnotized- it just takes you away to another place. His band, which consisted of a drummer, stand up bass, horn section, washboard, harmonica, banjo, and second guitarist in addition to Pokey on guitar and vocals, is top notch in their field and know how to throw a party. The Los Angeles crowd that was there shouted along and really got into it- something I rarely see from L.A. audiences.
Yes folks, THIS is how you throw a party.
