Pokey LaFarge's 'Must Be A Reason' Music Video Premieres at NPR Music
By: Caryn Robbins May. 22, 2017
The official music video for Pokey LaFarge's "Music Be A Reason" is premiering today at NPR Music. Of the song, NPR Music's Bob Boilen hails, "The contours of Pokey LaFarge's music have always evoked a time before he was born, but the here-and-now is center stage in the themes and messaging within" and goes on to assert, "[Must Be A Reason] is steeped in a soulful Memphis sound, breaking from the western swing and blues of his past five albums."
In celebration of the release, LaFarge and his longtime band will embark on an extensive summer tour with special guests Lillie Mae and Kelsey Waldon. Performances include stops at Chicago's Metro, Nashville's Mercy Lounge, New York's Bowery Ballroom and Rough Trade and Philadelphia's World Café Live. See below for complete details.
Recorded in LaFarge's hometown of St. Louis, Manic Revelations features 10 new original songs and was produced by the Southside Collective-LaFarge, Joey Glynn (bass), Ryan Koenig (harmonica, guitjo, electric guitar), Adam Hoskins (electric guitar), Matt Meyer (drums, percussion), Luc Klein (trumpet, euphonium, piano, glockenspiel), Alec Spiegelman (saxophone, piano, tubax, organ, clarinet, flute), David Beeman (tambourine, stylophone, guitar, organ)-along with additional production by Tony Hoffer.
"The manic revelation is the state where artists create," says LaFarge. "I got to the point in writing these songs where I felt like a house on fire that just kept burning." He continues, "This album is about confronting yourself. It's about confronting your city, its relation with the world, and all its people."
Since his debut in 2006, LaFarge has released seven studio albums, including his most recent, 2015's Something In The Water. Of the album, American Songwriter proclaimed, "immensely enjoyable...the sheer joy of these performances is contagious," while The Guardian described it as, "...a spirited attempt to keep American roots music-country blues, early jazz, ragtime and western swing-alive." Additionally, surrounding the album's release, LaFarge was featured on NPR's "Fresh Air." Listen to the full interview with Terry Gross here.
MANIC REVELATIONS TRACK LIST
1. Riot In The Streets
2. Must Be A Reason
3. Better Man Than Me
4. Bad Dreams
5. Mother Nature
6. Silent Movie
7. Good Luck Charm
8. Going To The Country
9. Wellington
10. I Will Never Change
POKEY LAFARGE CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
June 14-Des Moines, IA-Simon Estes Amphitheater#
June 15-Minneapolis, MN-First Avenue*
June 16-Chicago, IL-Metro*
June 17-Detroit, MI-Magic Stick*
June 18-Grand Rapids, MI-Pyramid Scheme*
June 21-Indianapolis, IN-The Vogue*
June 22-Nashville, TN-Mercy Lounge*
June 23-Hamilton, OH-Whimmydiddle 2017 @ RiversEdge Amphitheater
June 24-Owensboro, KY-ROMP: Bluegrass Roots & Branches Festival
June 25-Asheville, NC-The Grey Eagle*
June 28-Louisville, KY-WFPK Waterfront Wednesday†
June 30-Cleveland, OH-Beachland Ballroom
July 1-Pittsburgh, PA-The Rex Theatre
July 2-Toronto, ON-Horseshoe Tavern
July 7-Burlington, VT-Higher Ground‡
July 8-Cambridge, MA-The Sinclair‡
July 12-New York, NY-Bowery Ballroom
July 13-Brooklyn, NY- Rough Trade NYC‡
July 14-Philadelphia, PA-World Cafe Live Downstairs‡
July 15-Greenfield, MA-Green River Festival
July 16- Mt. Solon, VA-Red Wing Roots Festival @ Natural Chimneys Park
August 4-Wichita, KS-Wichita Vortex Music Festival§
September 23-Muncie, IN-Muncie Three Trails Music Series
September 24-Franklin, TN-Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival
September 29-Columbia, MO-Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival
*with special guest Lillie Mae
†appearing with Robyn Hitchcock, Carly Johnson
‡with special guest Kelsey Waldon
§appearing with Dwight Yoakam
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