Despite the snowy night Wednesday, people could be seen piling into Cox Auditorium en masse at 8 p.m., searching for a good seat to see Pokey LaFarge.
Age didn’t matter as the crowd was full of both the young and the old, and anywhere in between, all anticipating an amazing performance.
According to the pamphlet given out by the Cultural Attractions Committee, Pokey LaFarge’s music “incorporates elements of early jazz, ragtime, country blues, Western swing and more,” and it wasn’t lying.
His sound is more unique than anything out in the music world right now, but his music is an acquired taste. If jazz or swing music aren’t your thing, Pokey LaFarge and his band’s performance probably wouldn’t have been that appealing.
It was an extremely relaxed concert, which was the perfect way to end a busy Wednesday full of school and work. Most people were dressed casually, creating a good “feel at home” mood.
LaFarge’s clothing did not seem to match his style of music, which made him even more unique. His blue sports coat and red bow tie seemed a bit more modern than his jazzy, swing music. The rest of the band wore more old-fashioned clothing which seemed to fit the genre of music better. This small detail made LaFarge stand out from his band.
LaFarge played some of his new songs including “Something in the Water,” “Barcelona” and “Wanna Be Your Man” from his next album, which will be released April 7. He also played some of his current songs including “Let’s Get Lost.”
Though it was a relaxing concert, the audience clearly enjoyed it; people were constantly clapping, cheering and whistling in praise of the band’s performance.
By the end of the show, LaFarge had the audience involved, asking them to sing along.
The concert literally ended in a bang as the auditorium’s fire alarms sounded while LaFarge was performing his last song. Mesmerized, everyone just figured it was part of the show.
Everyone, that is, except the Cultural Attractions Committee, who put on the event. They ran forward trying to stop the band from playing but the music was too loud for anyone to notice. Evacuation began once the song was over.
Pokey LaFarge’s UT performance was definitely one to remember. The Cultural Attractions Committee made the right decision when choosing LaFarge and his band to perform. Despite the fire alarms, everything ran very smoothly.
Next time he is in town, you do not want to miss it.
