Close your eyes when Pokey LaFarge is singing and you feel like you’re transported back to the same era his 1946 Epiphone Spartan Archtop guitar was made. He sings new songs but they carry strong hints of old country swing, jump blues and jazz. His growing fan base loves it. In this interview, see why St. Louis is so important to him, how he’s hoping to help the city move past its self-esteem issues and why the best things are often underneath the surface.