LaFarge brings an international tour supporting a new album, “Something in the Water” – and his vintage, stylistic authenticity – to Grand Rapids’ Pyramid Scheme this week.
Honing in on His Midwest Identity: Pokey LaFarge and his band play Grand Rapids this week.
THE ARTIST: Pokey LaFarge
WHAT HE PLAYS: Vintage country blues, jazz, old-timey folk, swing
WHERE YOU CAN SEE HIM: 8 p.m. Thursday at The Pyramid Scheme
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You might say that Pokey LaFarge’s music isn’t so much retro as it is timeless.
With the thump of a doghouse bass, the crack of a snare drum, the plaintive wail of a klezmer clarinet and the licentious buzz of a New Orleans cornet, LaFarge and his band make a sound that draws a cultural map of early 20th century America. Combining elements of Dixieland jazz, Appalachian old time, Western swing, rockabilly and blues, LaFarge transforms those references into something that’s simultaneously familiar and fresh.
LaFarge: Drawing inspiration from the past.
You might attribute the musical polyglotism in LaFarge’s music to his Midwestern roots, which he celebrates on his new album, “Something in the Water.” LaFarge has deep family ties to the region, particularly St. Louis and Chicago. On songs like “Cairo, Illinois” and “Knockin’ the Dust Off the Old Rust Belt Tonight,” his new album reflects this overtly Midwestern attitude, which LaFarge describes as “hardworking, resourceful, creative.”
“I think, to a certain extent, you have to do things bigger and better in the Midwest to be acknowledged,” LaFarge said. “Rather than trying to be more coastal or cosmopolitan, this record is about celebrating the Midwest and all the things that make it a special place. That’s not to say we aren’t cultured! What I’m getting at is that I didn’t want to strip myself of my Midwestern identity to appeal to more people, I went the opposite direction and honed in on it.”
While it’s true that the mythical crossroads of blues history is usually placed in Mississippi, the urban centers of the industrial north functioned like a more literal crossroads during the Great Migration. Cities like Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis were a magnet for people from everywhere, people who brought their diverse musical traditions along as they looked for good jobs in the factories.
Finding Value in the Old and New: LaFarge
“Well, the South has a huge role in traditional American music, there’s no doubt about it,” LaFarge said. “The story of old Delta blues musicians and their contribution to contemporary music is maybe more visible to people than the early 20th century musicians that were based in the Midwest.”
During the period LaFarge draws the most inspiration from — the 1920s and 1930s — there were still great regional differences in American music.
“The differences are there, in the subject matter of the songs — people in different parts of the country were having different experiences. And also the nuances in the instrumentation and style,” LaFarge said. “Before radio, people were learning how to play and what to play from the people around them, passing on traditions that were more regional.”
GRAVITATING TOWARD VINTAGE GEAR BUT ‘NOT OPPOSED TO TRYING NEW THINGS’
LaFarge values stylistic authenticity to eras gone by as a matter of taste. But it’s not like he’s some Civil War re-enactor — he doesn’t have a problem with using modern technology where it suits him.
“Something in the Water”
“I don’t feel as though I have to sacrifice one for the other. There’s value in both older methods and new, older musical styles and contemporary ones,” LaFarge said. “I tend to gravitate toward older equipment and analog recording techniques because that more often produces the richness in sound that I’m looking for. That said, I’m not opposed to trying new things and utilizing modern technology when there’s a high quality outcome.”
That dilemma wasn’t an issue on “Something in the Water,” which was recorded at Chicago’s Hi-Style studios, which is packed with all manner of analog, vintage gear. The album was recorded between tours, over several months.
“We did some live recording and a fair amount of overdubs since we were bringing in lots of musicians from different places,” LaFarge said. “My own band came up from St. Louis for some of it, plus we had some of Chicago’s finest — the Giardinaires and the Western Elstons.”
Touring the Globe: LaFarge and his band.
The album was produced by Hi-Style proprietor Jimmy Sutton, who is best known these days as the bassist in J.D. McPherson’s band.
“Jimmy is such a talented producer, and it was really inspiring and boundary-pushing for me to work with him,” LaFarge said. “We got pretty close working on the album and had a lot of fun with it.”
To hear more with LaFarge, check out this excellent interview on the radio show “Fresh Air,” which includes some live performances.
Currently near the end of a spring U.S. tour leg with a six-piece band, LaFarge heads overseas to Europe later this month.
At 8 p.m. Thursday, he performs with Caroline Rose at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids. Tickets are $15 and available online at ticketweb.com.
VIDEO: POKEY LAFARGE, “Something in the Water”
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