Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three

29th March 2012

What a beautiful sunny week so far eh? Perfect weather for an afternoon of drinking in the sun by the river, followed by some American roots fun in the beautiful settings of Bush Hall.

On Monday night, myself and a few friends went to see Pokey Lafarge and the South City Three, made up of Joe Glynn on bass, Adam Hoskins on guitar, and Ryan Koenig on the harmonica and other household appliances. 

The whiskey was in full flow and the hall was packed with an eclectic crowd, ranging from middle-aged men and women who'd seen them on Jools Holland's Hootenanny last year, deep-south Americans and us, the twenty-somethings. When the band began their set, the crowd were frustratingly stagnant - but when they started playing their better known songs, like Drinkin' Whiskey Tonight (as seen on the Jools Holland clip) and La La Blues, they came to life. Even a fight broke out and the perpetrator was escorted out of the building. Rock and roll. 

Shortly after, Pokey calmed everyone down with an acoustic track called Josephine (a video from the night in question) and at the end of the night, after some heavy cheering from the crowd, the guys came back for an encore. 

As for the South City Three, what a bunch of dudes. The guitarist, Adam, knocked out some great solos,  and the bassist, Joe, rocks some rather impressive sideburns and this 'strong, silent type' demeanour. But it was Ryan, the harmonica maestro, who stole the show. Not only did he make me want to buy a harmonica the next day and move to the deep south, but it was his skills with a washboard that blew me away. He too was rocking some great sideburns, and a cowboy hat and waistcoat.

After the gig, instead of chilling out backstage, the band wandered into the front foyer to greet their fans, sign some posters and have a few photos taken. They were happy to chat to anyone, and when we bumped into them in a bar up the road, Pokey said hello again, remembering our names and seeming genuinely pleased to be chatting to us. It was refreshing to see a band so pleased to interact with their fans without a publicist forcing them into it.

Pokey, Myself, my pal Charlie, and Adam.

All in all, what a fun and charming Monday night. They're playing there again on Thursday, so if you happen to be in West London, I would highly recommend wandering down to try and bag yourself a night of Whiskey-induced swing.