Iconoclastic Troubadour Pokey LaFarge Drops Latest Single; New Album Out in Sept

Iconoclastic American troubadour Pokey LaFarge has shared his irresistible new single, “The Thing,” available everywhere now via his own Boxer Boy Records. An official music video – directed by Jacob Butler (LA LOM, Paul Cauthen) – premieres today on YouTube. “The Thing” marks the latest single and opening track from LaFarge’s eagerly awaited new album, Rent Money, arriving everywhere on Friday, September 11. Pre-orders/pre-saves are available now.

“The foundation of the record,” says Pokey LaFarge. “The first song written for the record and a positive retort to my own ‘F*** Me Up.’ A reminder that usually the one who craves to have more and more will usually be the most dissatisfied.”

LISTEN TO “THE THING”

WATCH “THE THING” (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE RENT MONEY

Produced by Elliot Bergman (Wild Belle, LA LOM, Natalie Bergman), Rent Money once again finds Pokey LaFarge deftly traversing the boundaries of genre, seamlessly integrating the myriad strains of 20th century American music – spanning, but not limited to, urban blues, primal rock ‘n roll, early jazz, ragtime, first wave reggae, boogie, gospel and electric country funk – with a freewheeling command of earnest songcraft, inspired performance, and subversive creativity. The album sees the Illinois native pushing forward yet again in what can be safely declared his finest collection to date, impassioned and mature, both as no-nonsense social commentary and heartfelt expression of personal experience. Driven by twanging guitars, plucky rhythms, and undeniably captivating melodies, songs like “My Baby Loves Me” and the outspoken first single and title track, “Rent Money,” soar and swing, their joyous refrains belying the kitchen-table issues and inescapable undercurrent of constant worry that permeates these troubled times.

“People are always going to tell you what they think you should play,” says Pokey LaFarge, “what you should sing about, how you should sound, how you should look, how you should act. And I’ve always just been like, nah. Nope. I’ve just completely gone my own way, and hopefully I’ve been honest and authentic in the process.

“I’m just trying to make music that AI can’t replicate. Things are so homogenized right now. That’s what I’m really, really, really resistant to, especially when it comes to music. I’m not going to do it. I’m not going to conform.”

LISTEN TO “RENT MONEY”

WATCH “RENT MONEY” (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

LaFarge will introduce fans old and new to Rent Money with an epic North American headline tour featuring full-band performances and solo shows beginning July 23 at Maquoketa, IA’s Codfish Hollow Barnstormers and then traveling the continent through a holiday season finale at Los Angeles, CA’s historic Lodge Room on December 19. For complete details and ticket information, please visitwww.pokeylafarge.net/tour.

TRACKLIST:

1. The Thing
2. My Baby Loves Me
3. Hambone
4. Rent Money
5. Stick Together
6. Work
7. Stranger
8. Can’t Take it With You
9. Told You No
10. Big Boss Man
11. On and On

POKEY LAFARGE - ON TOUR 2026

JULY

• 23 – Maquoketa, IA – Codfish Hollow
• 24 – Berwyn, IL – FitzGerald’s Outdoors
• 25 – Muncie, IN – Muncie Three Trails Music Series

AUGUST

• 27 – Arundel, ME – Vinegar Hill Music Theatre *
• 28 – Plainfield, VT – The Creative Campus at Goddard *
• 30 – Falmouth, MA – Hermann Theater @ Falmouth Academy *

SEPTEMBER

• 11 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre
• 12 – St Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
• 13 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
• 15 – Madison, WI – Atwood Music Hall
• 16 – Kalamazoo, MI – Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
• 17 – Ferndale, MI – The Magic Bag
• 18 – Toronto, ON – The Concert Hall
• 19 - Ottawa, ON - City Folk Festival
• 20 – Homer, NY – Center for the Arts of Homer
• 22 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
• 23 – Washington, DC – The Atlantis
• 25 – Cincinnati, OH – Ludlow Garage
• 26 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns
• 27 – Indianapolis, IN – HI–FI Indy

NOVEMBER

• 10 – Somerville, MA – Arts at The Armory
• 11 – Amherst, MA – The Drake Amherst
• 12 – New York, NY – Sony Hall
• 13 – Kingston, NY – Assembly
• 14 – Camden, ME – Camden Opera House

DECEMBER

• 2 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
• 3 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
• 4 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room Lounge
• 5 – Denver, CO – The Gothic Theatre
• 6 – Fort Collins, CO – Washington’s
• 8 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth Room
• 9 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
• 11 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
• 12 – Vancouver, BC – Hollywood Theatre
• 13 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
• 15 – Sebastopol, CA – HopMonk Tavern
• 16 – San Francisco, CA – Bimbo’s 365 Club
• 17 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall
• 18 – Carlsbad, CA – NAMM Museum of Making Music
• 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room

* Solo Performance