Pokey LaFarge: 2015

Sustainability comes up a lot in conversation with Pokey LaFarge, as does the importance of high quality in all things, and a wholehearted appreciation for the better things in life.

It makes sense coming from this Midwestern artist, born of the Rust Belt, in what was once the center of industrialized America. An early desire to dig deep and discover the roots of the classic rock music he was listening to and a healthy diet of the Beat writers, especially Jack Kerouac, fueled Pokey’s ambition to redefine himself and the place he was born and raised.

Over the years, his infectious blend of country blues, western swing, ragtime, jazz, and blues, has won him awards. More recently, LaFarge caught the attention of Jack White, who invited Pokey to contribute to his solo debut, Blunderbuss, and released LaFarge's own last album on Third Man Records.

Pokey LaFarge recently stopped by Studio A to play a couple tunes and chat with us about his sixth album (and Rounder Records debut), Something In The Water, and it became clear that while his music may hearken back to another time, it couldn’t be more modern. It's a breath of fresh air in a technological world.

[recorded: 5/6/15]