INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Steve Poltz

Locals Only
Sunday, June 3, 7 p.m., $10

Steve Poltz’s musical career has spanned nearly 25 years. In the ’80s, he formed the Rugburns, a punk rock band that released three albums. In the early ’90s, he befriended a struggling California musician named Jewel Kilcher and co-wrote her hit single “You Were Meant for Me,” which set a record for staying in the music charts. He’s toured five continents, and this weekend, he will stop by Locals Only after a Friday visit to the Bob and Tom radio show.

Poltz’s work is wide-ranging in style. Many of his songs are satires, but he can also deliver an earnest love song. His performances are manic. He’ll stand in front of the microphone with his guitar, his face full of outlandish hysteria — eyes bulging and mouth agape — as his dedicated fans laugh at every word he sings. Spontaneity plays a large role in his show as well. Poltz loves to interact with his audience and will sometimes make up songs on the spot based on their suggestions.

In the end, it’s really about the audience. Poltz goes out of his way to not only entertain them, but to get to know them. His music and concerts have created a countrywide community of fans, and when Poltz comes to town, it’s always an event.