Pokey LaFarge
Pokey LaFarge, Cicada Rhythm
Lodge Room104 Avenue 56, Los Angeles 90042
Pokey LaFarge heads to Lodge Room on a bill featuring Cicada Rhythm. The listing does not specify the night’s set format or LaFarge’s onstage lineup, but it places his newest work, Rent Money, in focus: songs concerned with kitchen-table pressures, inter-class discontent, and personal unease about the future. Its arrangements are described as crisp and uncluttered, giving the voice, instruments, grooves, and melodies room to register.
An Illinois native, LaFarge has spent two decades following what the listing calls his own “iconoclastic” path as a troubadour. His songwriting draws from a broad range of 20th-century American music, absorbing urban blues, early rock ’n’ roll, jazz, ragtime, reggae, boogie, gospel, and electric country funk without treating them as museum pieces. Rhumba Country expanded that approach with island rhythms and highlife guitar touches; Rent Money, produced by Elliot Bergman, returns to simpler structures and the Chicago blues that first shaped him. LaFarge cites Howlin’ Wolf and Chuck Berry as life-changing early discoveries, and says he wanted “childlike simplicity” in the newer songs. The record was largely built from spontaneous first takes, then colored by Bergman, trusted band members, and backing vocals from Addie Hamilton and Natalie Bergman.
The Lodge Room offers a distinctive live music experience on the second floor of a building in Highland Park, where the room’s modest size brings the stage close to the audience, creating a direct connection with the performers. The venue features a bar but does not serve full meals, encouraging guests to focus on the music while enjoying drinks. Shows typically start in the evening, with doors opening around 7 pm and performances beginning an hour later, often including multiple sets or late-night shows. Seating is limited and generally first come first served, so arriving early can secure a good spot. The space’s walls and layout emphasize the music, making it a place to listen attentively while still allowing for a relaxed social vibe. This venue remains a lively part of the local music scene, hosting a range of artists and styles.