Steve Poltz and the Cynics
With thousands of songs behind him and a lifetime of road miles beneath his feet, Steve Poltz has finally sat down to look back and make sense of it all. The only tunesmith ever to write songs with both Mojo Nixon and Jewel is back with a new album that once again defies category and blurs musical boundaries – Traveling, due in January 2008. This tour will showcase Poltz’s new style, in which he deviates from the manic, irreverent form that marked his prior efforts and instead creates a soundscape of such raw emotions that listeners will relate on an immediate and personal level. His anguished, confessional lyrics are achingly pretty within beautiful string-tinged melodies. The eclectic Poltz has released a series of solo albums that have garnered him worldwide acclaim, and has had his songs featured in movies like “Notting Hill” and many television shows. He was frontman of the San Diego-based folk-punk band the Rugburns, who proffered fist-pumping anthems about football and cannibalism. With Jewel, he co-wrote the longest charting single in the history of the Billboard chart. He has worked with Victoria Williams and Cracker. His album Answering Machine consisted of 45-second songs he had recorded for his outgoing message. Not only does it continue to sell faster than it can be printed up, but Neil Young has gone on record as enjoying it. You’ll also hear his music on a Jeep commercial and the AT&T Tech Channel’s “Hugh Thompson Show,” on which he is band leader and foil. Steve is also one hell of a funny, charming and rambunctious performer. Joining him isThe Truckee Brothers who are known for their brilliant flair for grimy, almost Zappa-esque, and obscene lyrics. Their band’s vibe is daring, upbeat, and filled with righteous fire – the kind of guitar-based rock that makes you want to turn it up LOUD AS F*CK and laugh while the downstairs neighbors beat viciously on the floor with a broom handle. We can always use more of this kind of shameless, brash, spit n’ guts rock an’ roll.
