Once Again Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three bring fun and style to music with their latest release Middle of Everywhere. Named for their hometown St.Louis' relativity to the rest of the country, and their place in the world touring all over, Middle of Everywhere is a superb release through and through. The attention getting schtick and pagentry are missing from the album, unlike Riverboat Soul. RS just grabbed and pulled you right in with legendary tales of 'Claude Jones' and Jim Jones in 'In the Graveyard Now', RS also forced you to take notice with such crowd pleasing period pieces as 'Hard Times Come and Go'.
Instead Middle of Everwhere
, brings forth 13 tracks that don't require a period or being called "old timey'. These are just 13 pleasing songs of love, relationships failed and girls, that can be listened to over and over.
In the future, when discussing whether a band has come into their own, comparisons will be made to this album. The sound that is completely and uniquely home to Pokey & Co is on display for the rest of the music world to learn from. Especially, the lack of borders and frameworks that he is constrained with
The album starts out with 'So Long Honeybee Goodbye
' , including an all time best witty lyric that could only have been rhymed by Pokey.
"There's two kinds of people in this world
Say, there's two kinsd of people in this world
The kind of people that pick up sticks before they mow the grass
And the kind that mows them over, when they cross their path
I said there’s two kinds of people in this world
But I’m from a whole other breed
I don't pick up sticks, 'cause I don't mow no grass
I prefer to stay in the weeds"
To be able to show the distinctive personality that is Pokey LaFarge, while easily summing up the rest of the world is quite profound. The ease at which his point of view comes across is compelling. Likely the reason this album is so easy to love right away.
"The band and I found our sound while recording the new album," notes Pokey. "I truly discovered my voice and refined my songwriting, and I;m very excited for folks far and wide to hear what we have going on."
To seal the deal on the album, The South City Three: Joey Glynn, Adam Hoskins, and Ryan Koenig bring skill of their instruments equal to the wit of Pokey. Also joining in on the album are Shayne Cohn on Cornet, Charlie Halloran of Squirrel Nut Zippers fame on Trombone, and Andrew Ratcliffe on drums.
The cohesiveness of the band as a unit is an integral part of this album, as it is not your standard blue grass fare, or really your standard anything.
The album Middle of Everywhere was released July 19th. It is available at all major digital retailers, as is the new E.P. on Jack White's Third Man Records featuring 'Pack It Up' and "Chittlin' Cookin' Time in Cheatham County'.
'Head to Toe' @7:24 during Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three's recent NPR Tiny Desk Concert
Lo-Fi Sessions Presents Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three
'Drinkin' Whiskey Tonight @4:07 following 'Claude Jones'
For more on the band, check out Pokeylafarge.net.
To hear the acclaimed live show from last year's Newport Folk Fest try NPR.org or iTunes
Enjoy!
Instead Middle of Everwhere, brings forth 13 tracks that don't require a period or being called "old timey'. These are just 13 pleasing songs of love, relationships failed and girls, that can be listened to over and over.In the future, when discussing whether a band has come into their own, comparisons will be made to this album. The sound that is completely and uniquely home to Pokey & Co is on display for the rest of the music world to learn from. Especially, the lack of borders and frameworks that he is constrained with
The album starts out with 'So Long Honeybee Goodbye
' , including an all time best witty lyric that could only have been rhymed by Pokey.
"I Traveled 'round this country
Thursday Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Seems Like I've Been Everywhere
Been A Lot of Places
Seen So Many Faces
But Always Wishing That You Were There
They Say A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words
Oh But There's Still A Thousand Stories
That You Never Heard
Please Tell Me Darling, Are You Still True
All These Times I'm Away From You
When It Comes Time to Leaving
Will You Be Grieving ,
Will You Even Wonder Where I'm At
I've Got A Feeling,
That Your Love, Someone has been stealing
You'll Belong To Them When I Get Back
Well, You Know that You Mean the world to me
I've Got Good Bait Miss, Lots Of Fish In That Sea
You'll Be The One To Sit Alone And Cry When I Say
Farewell, C'est La vie
So Long Honeybee Goodbye"
Using C'est La vie and Honeybee made for a fun rhyme, not to mention an example of the dexterity of tongue Pokey is able to pull that off with frequency.
Further displaying the individuality and in-comparability of Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three is 'Weedwacker Bag'
Further displaying the individuality and in-comparability of Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three is 'Weedwacker Bag'
Excerpt from 'Weedwacker Bag
'
'"There's two kinds of people in this world
Say, there's two kinsd of people in this world
The kind of people that pick up sticks before they mow the grass
And the kind that mows them over, when they cross their path
I said there’s two kinds of people in this world
But I’m from a whole other breed
I don't pick up sticks, 'cause I don't mow no grass
I prefer to stay in the weeds"
To be able to show the distinctive personality that is Pokey LaFarge, while easily summing up the rest of the world is quite profound. The ease at which his point of view comes across is compelling. Likely the reason this album is so easy to love right away.
"The band and I found our sound while recording the new album," notes Pokey. "I truly discovered my voice and refined my songwriting, and I;m very excited for folks far and wide to hear what we have going on."
To seal the deal on the album, The South City Three: Joey Glynn, Adam Hoskins, and Ryan Koenig bring skill of their instruments equal to the wit of Pokey. Also joining in on the album are Shayne Cohn on Cornet, Charlie Halloran of Squirrel Nut Zippers fame on Trombone, and Andrew Ratcliffe on drums.
The cohesiveness of the band as a unit is an integral part of this album, as it is not your standard blue grass fare, or really your standard anything.
The album Middle of Everywhere was released July 19th. It is available at all major digital retailers, as is the new E.P. on Jack White's Third Man Records featuring 'Pack It Up' and "Chittlin' Cookin' Time in Cheatham County'.
'Head to Toe' @7:24 during Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three's recent NPR Tiny Desk Concert
Lo-Fi Sessions Presents Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three
'Drinkin' Whiskey Tonight @4:07 following 'Claude Jones'
For more on the band, check out Pokeylafarge.net.
To hear the acclaimed live show from last year's Newport Folk Fest try NPR.org or iTunes
Enjoy!
That exact style once drew me to Squirrel Nut Zippers and is now the impetus for a trip to iTunes....
ReplyDeleteAdd in old timey spice notes with a slight ribbon microphone feel on the ear and I'd say I have a new band to listen to.