Steve Poltz is a… a.. what is he? In the man’s own words, “I’m just a weirdo, a freak, a bon vivant, a rounder, a rabble rouser, a workaholic, a people pleaser, an idiot and a grateful kid who ran away and joined the circus.”

Most of us know Poltz as one of the most charismatic live folksingers working today. Whether he’s playing little club in Halifax, or trading verses with Jewel (whose hit song “You Were Made for Me” he co-wrote), or serenading Cayamo, Poltz is Poltz, full on and no exceptions. Hence the the superlative, announced each night, by the man himself:

“This is the Greatest Show of My Life!”

I shared a show with him once. Unsurprisingly, it was the same night I met Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. We became friends. Weird things happen when Poltz is around.

Besides Jewel, the East Nashville-based folksinger has cuts with dozens of artists — Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Deer Tick, Sierra Hull, Nicki Bluhm among them — as well as a collaboration with the Wood Brothers on his critically-acclaimed record Stardust and Satellites.

We talk about early years in the California folk rock scene. Hilarity ensues. Steve recounts what a typical show at the Belly Up was like during the Rugburns’ heyday. Destroying stuff, making memories for everyone in the house except himself, since he was wasted. 

But we also explored more sensitive territory. Steve got clean more than fifteen years ago, after suffering a stroke onstage. We talk alot about that time, the before and after. I asked him how his motivations changed when he got clean. His answer is worth the listen alone. 

One thing about Steve Poltz is that he is better than just about anybody I know at making a person feel like he’s the center of the world. Time and again in this interview a few minutes would pass before I’d realize he was interviewing me.

Somewhere in there we played a song together, Steve’s song Conveyor Belt. Steve played and sang and I did a harmony and even finagled a little solo into the deal. A sweet moment captured in the studio.

This interview was the most fun I’ve had on the Morse Code Podcast so far. I hope you enjoy it. Please subscribe on whatever you’re listening to (or watching) and help us grow this spot. Or consider joining as a paid subscriber. Either way, thank you for being part of this community. 

This episode sponsored by Writerfest, a creative gathering for aspiring writers, published authors, screenwriters, poets, and songwriters in.  Attendees enjoy keynote talks by the best book, song, and screenplay writers in the business as well as in-depth break-out sessions with professional editors, literary agents, filmmakers, and music industry insiders. Writerfest is happening Nov 22 and 23. Find out more information on writerfestnashville.com

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