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Pokey LaFarge
@ Princess Theatre, Brisbane,
13th May 2025
(Live Review)

Review and photos by Alec Smart (@alecsmart_fotos)

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Pokey LaFarge, Princess Theatre, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart, 13 May 2025

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Pokey LaFarge, performed a spirited concert with his four-piece band at Princess Theatre in Woolloongabba, Brisbane, during his May 2025 Australian tour. He was supported by DJ Elnorto, who played a selection of classic old-time hits from his record collection. (Ten of LaFarge’s 11-date Australasian concerts were warmed-up by DJs, not bands.)

It’s been six years since the Illinois-born singer-songwriter last toured Australia, and his star is still in the ascendance. He’s had a prolific and varied career, releasing nine albums in 19 years. LaFarge is touring his latest album, Rhumba Country (Oct 2024), which is more musically diverse than his previous album, In the Blossom of Their Shade (2021). Five songs from the new 10-track album were included in his 21-song Brisbane set.

The Heritage-listed Princess Theatre, Queensland’s oldest standing theatre, has seen many incarnations from peaks to lows since its opening in 1888. However, the grand old former theatre/cinema/factory/shop/church was returned to its former splendour and reopened in 2021 after a faithful restoration program, including the introduction of modern elements.

The fine olde 900-capacity auditorium was the ideal setting for LaFarge, described by the venue promoters as a ‘riverboat-chic rock-n-roller’, as he and his quartet performed a mixed repertoire of swing, ragtime, country blues, rocksteady and Americana.

Incidentally, ‘Farge’, an adopted nom-de-guerre by the former Andrew Heissler, (‘Pokey’ came from his mum teasing him as a boy) is not French but a Norwegian word meaning ‘colour’, and is used to refer to objects or people bringing colour to a room.

Considering the warm response by fans at Princess Theatre his music certainly brought colour to a cold and rainy night in Brisbane. There were several women dressed as Flappers, the inspirational feminist subculture of the Roaring Twenties that spurned and defied conservative patriarchal expectations with progressive clothes and attitudes between the horrors of the two World Wars.

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Pokey LaFarge, Princess Theatre, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart, 13 May 2025

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LaFarge told the crowd they’d recently played in the ‘Deep South’ (Victoria) and revealed they’d not seen any kangaroos yet during their travelling in Australia. “We’re hoping to see some crocs tomorrow when we go swimming in the sea!” he joked.

“We found out Australians love to scare Americans,” he added. “Like, it’s ‘Spider Season’! Of course, it’s always spider season in Australia!”

The band – Andrea DeMarcus, double-bass guitar; Elizabeth Goodfellow, drums; Erik Miron, guitar + trumpet; and Hank Mehren, keyboard, (LaFarge’s wife Addie Hamilton, who sings harmony vocals, was not present); – are musically adept, and during various numbers showcased their skills with solo spots.

LaFarge himself is a talented guitarist and on stage he alternates between an electric Fender Jazzmaster and a 1946 acoustic-electric Epiphone Spartan archtop.

LaFarge encouraged those on the seated upper-level of the theatre to dance. “Stand up on that balcony!” he urged. However, beyond a bit of arm waving the (mainly elderly) occupants of the balcony remained seated although there was one couple who enjoyed a romantic waltz in the alley of the fire exit.

The latest single, So Long Chicago (see link to music video below) was played near the end of the first set. When LaFarge returned alone for the encore, someone requested Fuck Me Up, his quaintly-titled single from his 2020 album Rock Bottom Rhapsody.

However, he declined to play it, revealing, “I wrote that song when I was really miserable. I didn’t want to play music any more. I tried drugs – it didn’t work. I tried success – it didn’t work. I tried women – it didn’t work. So I tried Jesus and seven years later, here I am.”

Instead, he performed an acoustic cover of Brother Claude Ely’s Aint No Grave.

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Pokey LaFarge, Princess Theatre, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart, 13 May 2025

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LaFarge’s Christianity is written on his sleeve. He wears a cross on a necklace and his Fender guitar has a cross-shaped sticker with the name ‘Jesus’ on the cross-bar. And there are several songs about the Devil and finding redemption in his repertoire, which is not uncommon in the era and region – the Mississippi Delta – from which he draws his musical and cultural influences.

Historically, it was one of the most-favoured cotton growing regions in the USA. However, that also involved the cruel exploitation of African-American slaves who, in time, developed a rich musical tradition steeped in sadness and the seeking of religious salvation, but spiced with wonderful dance music.

After a solo performance of (what I believe is) a new song, Give Me Back My Crown, the band returned to the stage for a rip-roaring performance of the saucy, unforgettable, Something In The Water, which began as a slow drum solo.

The night’s finale was a long, slow number from the latest album, Goodnight, Goodbye (Hope Not Forever), during which bassist Andrea performed an earnest bass solo, followed by Hank improvising on the keys.

“Last time I was in Australia I said I’d be back soon. Six years is not soon in my book,” LaFarge apologised, promising a shorter interval before his next Australian visit.

Pokey LaFarge’s latest music video, So Long Chicago, can be seen here.

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Pokey LaFarge, Princess Theatre, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart, 13 May 2025

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Set List

Chicken Shack
Don’t Let It Go
Get It ‘Fore It’s Gone
One You, One Me
The Devil Ain’t Lazy
Home Home Home
Killing Time
For a Night
It’s Not Over
Central Time
Tonk Game
Long for the Heaven I Seek
End of My Rope
Chicago vamp
So Long Chicago
Fine to Me
Jericho

Encore

Aint’ No Grave (Gonna Hold Me Down)
[Pokey solo] – Brother Claude Ely cover
Give Me Back My Crown
Something in the Water
Goodnight, Goodbye

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Pokey LaFarge, Princess Theatre, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart, 13 May 2025

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Check out Alec Smart’s (@alecsmart_fotos) full gallery of this event HERE

Check out Lucas Packett’s (@lucas.packett.photography) full gallery of the Melbourne (8th May, 2025) event HERE

Check out Lisa Gould’s (@lisa_g_photography) full gallery of the Bangalow (14th May, 2025) event HERE

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Pokey LaFarge, Princess Theatre, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart, 13 May 2025

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Follow POKEY LAFARGE
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Spotify

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AMNPLIFY – DB