New Music Discovery – Pokey Lafarge – Rent Money

Pokey LaFarge – Rent Money · see community ratings →

I know, I know, Pokey LaFarge isn’t exactly new to the music scene. He’s been around since 2006 and already has 12 albums out in the ether. However, I’m surprised time and time again that many people have never heard of him, and that’s a damn shame. So, with his new album Rent Money, released last month, I figured it would be a good time to highlight him here on RolnRock.

I first discovered Pokey LaFarge years ago, so long ago now that I’ve forgotten the year, when he played at a little bar in Lexington, Kentucky, called The Green Lantern. The show got me hooked and I’ve followed his career ever since. At that time he was mostly into a ’1920s style Americana or ragtime music. It was something I wasn’t hearing at the time, and it was very interesting to hear the rebirth of that type of music.

On his newest album, Rent Money, though, he’s no longer in that ragtime style but has shifted his music to a more ’50s rock ’n’ roll influence with some soul and R&B thrown in. This shift occurred some years ago with his 2017 release, Manic Revelations. Regardless of the style, he keeps his playfulness in his music and always keeps that swag onstage and off. Rent Money has a number of great songs, but the two that are really floating my boat right about now are “Hambone” and “On and On.” Both have catchy hooks that really pull you back into the song, and the extra bass on “On and On” would have made this a great dance tune that would have fit right in at a sock hop.

With all that said, If you have never heard of Pokey LaFarge, it’s time to give him a listen. Rent Money is a great place to start, and if you want to travel down into his ragtime collection, take a listen to Middle of Everywhere.
Listen to all his music streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, or Youtube Music

You can also check him out on his own website at https://www.pokeylafarge.net/