Pokey LaFarge is a youngish guy whose music Spotify occasionally serves up to me. His sound has evolved over the years from really old timey (like the Squirrel Nut Zippers) to old timey (like J.D. McPherson) to his latest album Rhumba Country which inspired this post. It's not fair to say it sounds like a Beck album, because those are big shoes to fill, but like Beck he melds a bunch of different musical styles together and I dig it.
The first Pokey song I heard was End of My Rope which is one of his more moderately old timey jams from a few albums ago, Rock Bottom Rhapsody.
Here's the title track from his first album. You'll see what I mean about the Zippers.
He made a handful of albums with this general sound, gradually adding more background musicians and improving production quality.
Then in 2020 he released Rock Bottom Rhapsody. I guess the pandemic gave him the opportunity to listen to music that wasn't originally recorded on a wax cylinder and he did some songs like this.
In 2021 he released In the Blossom of Their Shade, probably after listening to a few reggae and surf records. See what I mean?
Continuing his southward musical journey, Rhumba Country includes a few Latin influenced songs. I'm particularly fond of One You, One Me and its nominal hiphop lyrical flow at the beginning.
The rest sounds like something you would get from Dan Auerbach's solo stuff. You know how much I enjoy pseudo-soul jams like this.
All this is a long-winded way of saying I like Pokey LaFarge's new album and encourage you to listen to it.
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29 comments:
long-winded is our stock in trade, z. dig it.
I haven't got the new record yet, but I'm a big Pokey fan. I really like "In the Blossom of Their Shade".
Fun fact: his real name isn't Pokey. When I met him 10ish years ago, he introduced himself as "Drew".
In other music news, the radio news hit just told me that John Stamos is going to be a featured musician with The Beach Boys for their tour, which includes a stop in Roanoke next month.
This reminds me of Ki Ho Kim’s dog that bit Dave Hammelberg.
The Drew thing explains it all. Mayer Hawthorn is an Andrew as well.
look at rootsy low-key name dropping.
I don't actually know Stamos, for the record. I did go out for drinks with Pokey's (now former) band. I liked those guys and they were good players, but the cats with him now are a level above, I'd say. I haven't seen them since they were playing as a three piece.
Last day of 6th grade here. That's a wrap for elementary school in this house. Was a little emotional this morning. Nothing major but definitely a bit wistful for the past when my kid was a tiny human. Will likely be that way again at tonight's promotion ceremony.
What's GTB Legal Dept. and music hounds opinion on DOJ suit against LiveNation and alleged monopoly practices? Multi-byline, collaborative post?
Congrats, Mark. Pretty cool.
I wish Merrick Garland went after Trump for January 6 with the same vigor he's going after Apple for making good phones and LiveNation for making it easy to buy concert tickets. He futzed around for years regarding J6 and now we have this shitshow right before the election. I'm sure someone will chime in that TicketMaster sucks, which they do and have done for years as Pearl Jam observed 30 years ago, but there are bigger issues for DOJ to deal with right now.
Stamos has been gigging with The Beach Boys since the mid eighties. He was in the Kokomo video (which sucks). What’s touring under that storied name ain’t The Beach Boys.
the girls won the district championship in penalties. nerve. wracking.
hope these kids are good students, because they can’t carry a tune in a bucket. but they’re enthusiastic in celebrating their title on the bus ride home.
In a bucket?
Employee number 8? Or did he make baskets?
Elementary school is officially, officially over. My kid got an excellence in social studies award. Chip off the old block. Kinda wish she was a chip off a math or science block.
if you wanna see something cool, check out the video at this link: https://www.instagram.com/p/C7VeFM6Axa4/
it's the game-winning penalty in our district title game, scored by a senior who was one of the kids featured in the critically acclaimed rob lasso series. pretty fun stuff. on to regionals. if we win our regional semi on tuesday, we automatically advance to the state quarterfinals regardless of how we fare in the regional final. sko huskies!
after listening to bits and pieces of those songs, I am assuming pokey lafarge is an acquired taste. like when you acquire genital herpes.
but congrats on the soccer win!
Thanks for sharing that, Rob. That was fun to watch.
My kid celebrated her first day of summer by getting a sunburn. Once again, chip off the old block.
Little known fact about me: I love a good Cardigan. I approve of Tyrese Haliburton’s fit tonight.
Mavs-Wolves is getting fun. Yeah, I know of you don’t care about the NBA
I welcome Mark's thoughts on NBA and hoops-related topics. As a long-time sports watcher and scribbler, appears to me that Mavs more composed and aware who's driving the bus late. Luka and Kyrie are stone beasts. T-wolves are every bit as talented and maybe deeper but lack consistency late.
Other side of bracket, Celtics pretty tough and resilient and have benefited from depleted bracket. Watching Pacers is like watching a Labrador puppy. Similar energy and blithe indifference to what just transpired, good or bad. Also, similar discipline and precision at important times.
That Ant dunk was incredible. Not sure the nba is going to love having 10 days between conference finals and finals, but it looks quite possible.
RIP Bill Walton
I hate that the nba made the decision years ago to set the dates of the Finals. If both of these series are over in short order we should have a few days off and then dive in.
As for the Mavs, the GM (Nico Harrison) has done an incredible job. He bet big on Kyrie (twice) when nobody else would, myself included. He’s the perfect running mate for Luka in much the same way he was for LeBron. He’s the best second option/Robin you could ask for with a dominant heliocentric offensive force.
They nailed the Lively pick, the Gafford and Washington trades and Jason Kidd deserves a ton of credit for developing this team’s defensive identity. I’m beyond impressed with Dallas.
With that said, Boston is more dominant than people give them credit for 75-20 on the season in incredible. Best, deepest team in the league imo. I’m really looking forward to these Finals.
And lastly, RIP Bill Walton. One of the greatest basketball players and humans of all time.
this pokey lafarge music is growing on me . . . like a goiter.
late friday night, i drunkenly broke a wine glass and cut my finger. got blood all over myself and the sheets of the bed in our airbnb. then, saturday morning, i cut myself shaving in the most bizarre way i've ever seen - like i took a vertical slice out of my cheek. finally, i woke up this morning with a cut on the bridge of my nose, provenance unknown. tough weekend for the kid.
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