I have been enjoying Pokey LaFarge‘s music the past several years, once I discovered him, probably surfing the net late one night. It’s right in the sweet spot for me: old time blues, string band stuff, with a clarinet and a harp thrown in. Just fantastic.
Some highlights from his bio tell us that Mr. LaFarge is “a musician, songwriter, bandleader, entertainer, innovator and preservationist.” He plays a “mix of early jazz, string ragtime, country blues and western swing.” He was born Andrew Heissler in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1983, where he developed an early interest in American literature and history, as well as roots music of the 20th century. After high school he hit the road, often playing on street corners, and meeting others with similar interests which led to the formation of a band and a recording career including ten studio albums since 2006.
This song below, “Garbage Man Blues,” appeared on a 2013 album called Pokey Lafarge – Live. The performance was done at Music City Roots, a live radio program out of Madison, Tennessee. Yes, this is the thing.