STEVE POLTZ at Hugh’s Room, Wednesday, June 1. Rating: NNNNN
Introduced by Hugh’s Room’s Holmes Hooke as Jewel’s ex-boyfriend (the two co-wrote You Were Meant For Me), Nova Scotian/Californian songwriter Steve Poltz pulled off a two and a half hour set with no opener, no breaks and no backup band – just an arsenal of inspired material, a few acoustic guitars, some effect and looping pedals, and his undeniable wacky charisma.
The medium-sized crowd of devotees stayed with Poltz throughout as he played material from his sweet recent album Dreamhouse (produced by Joel Plaskett), Notting Hill soundtrack song Everything About You, covers (including Big Star’s Thirteen and Moon River) and material from an album of ridiculous 45-second long answering machine messages.
He segued with stories about being naked at a Korean day spa and early sexual encounters listening to James Taylor, sang excerpts from musicals, beat-boxed, changed t-shirts (perhaps the most youthful 50 year old I have ever seen), took requests, hugged audience members and implored everyone to hold hands and sing along with his last song.
Go see him.
Steve Poltz is also playing Friday (June 3) at Betty’s (240 King St. E.) at 8:30 pm. Tickets are $25, call the organizer Jeff at (416) 561-6536 or email him at jeff@indietv.ca (it’s a tiny venue!)
