One of Missouri’s most respected live acts Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three will play at Mojo’s on Friday.

Based on past shows, the crowd will contain die-hard fans and people who are a few hours away from becoming die-hard fans. This is an act made to win over fans through its live shows. Speaking with Pokey ahead of the show, the front man said he agrees that live music holds a special appeal.

“For a lot of reasons we play better when we’re playing with a crowd, it’s kind of like a communication, it’s personal music, it’s a personal exchange,” LaFarge said. “It’s kind of our forte to get people dancing, to get them going and so yeah it’s better to do it live.”

LaFarge and his band play a style of traditional American music that, in his own words, is “a couple of generations removed from our best music.” He names musicians like Bill Monroe, Jimmie Rodgers, Milton Brown, Leftie Brazil and Blind Boy Fuller as his biggest influences. This is music steeped in respect for the past.

“As an artist you have to know where you come from, you have to know the music that’s out there that came before you,” LaFarge said. “It’s just like an altar. I mean conforming to a new sound is one thing, but if you don’t have an idea about what came before you, what are you going to do when the next fad comes along? Are you just going to jump on that fad and do that?“

LaFarge knows his musical history. He goes off on a tangent about the talent of Louis Armstrong.

“The electric guitar solo you hear in a rock and roll band? You might as well credit it to Louis Armstrong,” LaFarge said. “The number of musicians in the past who didn’t get the credit they deserve is bemoaned. Of course in a some cases it was racially driven.”

Despite his appreciation for what has come before, LaFarge said he sees plenty of opportunity for alternative artists in the current climate.

“You can actually get away with doing anything,” LaFarge said. “You can do what you want musically right now, there was a time where not too long ago you had to conform to the times, or you would be out of a job as a musician.“

LaFarge said he thinks artists have more freedom now.

“Now you don’t have to sell out, you don’t have to play for anyone else but yourself,” LaFarge said. “I mean, as an artist you’re always going to be playing for the crowd, you’re always going to be making that exchange with them, communicating with them so they understand you but you have to make yourself happy first.”

The band explained what can be expected in Friday’s show.

“There are going to be hearing a lot of new material because we’re getting ready to record a new album,” LaFarge said. “You can kind of see how the new sound is, and see two hours of non-stop dance music and acoustic and original Midwestern old town music.”