Pokey LaFarge at Turf Club, St Paul (20 January 2018)

Nashville-based duo Indianola opened with a brief set of somewhat downbeat songs, mostly culled from the debut EP, Zero. The project is one from Jackson, MS native Owen Beverly, who cut his musical teeth on the music of the nearby Delta Blues and took those influences, along with singer-songwriters like Roy Orbison and Townes Van Zandt, to form a sound of his own. 

On songs like the title track, ‘Another Thing Coming’, and single ’Tired of Being Told’ Beverly emotes the ups and downs of the touring life he’s led, as in this current project and back as a previous live member of Oh Land, and the many travels each entailed.  With studio time already behind them, expect a full-length album in 2018.

With a healthy Minneapolis/St. Paul following and the commonalities of also being Midwestern (LaFarge is St. Louis-based) and closely tied to the Mississippi River, Pokey LaFarge seems like a good musical neighbor, bringing back a classic sound, with his own modern twist. 

The lanky LaFarge looks like Hank Williams Sr. and dresses in a retro-style that reflects his music, though the band was missing one member as Ryan Koenig (harmonica/guitar) is still back recovering from a December car accident.  The latest album is last year’s Manic Revelations (Rounder Records) his eighth full-length, with several new songs featured this night, but the strongest crowd applause was predictably saved for the older favorites.

The ninety-minute set was stripped down compared to his last area appearance, at First Avenue which featured a full horn section, but Joey Glynn (bass), Adam Hoskins (guitar) and Matt Meyer (drums) remained in tow, and rock solid throughout.

LaFarge started strong with ‘Better Man than Me’ and the crowd sang along with ‘Goodbye, Barcelona’ which had the feel of a drinking song and noted the capacity crowd seemed a little mellow for a Saturday night, perhaps saving some energy to cheer the next day’s Vikings’ game.

With a major snowstorm in the immediate weather forecast, it was fitting that LaFarge debuted a brand new song while in St. Paul, the fittingly titled ‘Storm a Comin’, playing it both nights solo and acoustic.  A lovely ‘When Did You Leave Heaven’ (also solo) followed and then the band re-emerged for a stirring Mexican-rhythmed Warren Zevon cover, ’Carmelita’.

The crowd again came to life for sing-a-longs on ‘Pack it Up’ and ‘The Devil Ain’t Lazy’ (both featuring sharp guitar work by Hoskins) and ‘Central Time’ had the pulse of a classic road song.  The main set ended with the high rhythm ‘Drinkin’ Whiskey Tonight’ but the rowdier crowd had not had enough, chanting a mixture of “Pokey!” and ‘Seven Nation Army’ to woo them back out. 

Before beginning the two-song encore, LaFarge spoke fondly of the area, saying he could see himself living here, despite the harsh winters and praised the local music, including that of Jack Klatt and the Cat Swingers, to whom he dedicated ‘Cairo, IL’, before finishing things with the new ‘Good Luck Charm’.

Classic sounds in a classic room fit together like hand in glove, and having Pokey LaFarge play the Turf Club for a multi-night sold-out stand, seemed like a perfect combination and the ideal setting to unveil all of his Manic Revelations.