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This is the story of Steve Poltz. Some people start life with a plan. Not Steve. He opens himself up to the universe in a way most of us will never be loose enough to achieve, and the universe responds with a wink, a seemingly bottomless well of inspiration, and the talent to truly connect with an audience. While 2021 could have found him adrift, faced with a tour moratorium the likes of which he hadnt experienced in decades, it opened a door literally, his friend Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers door to creating an exuberant, thoughtful batch of songs that celebrate life in all of its stages. The resulting album is called Stardust & Satellites [Red House / Compass Records]. I just make stuff up, he exclaims, quipping, it sounded good to say that. Steve is the sort of prolific writer and collaborator who downplays what seems like a non-stop geyser of creativity. I have no rhyme or reason for what I do. Its all magic. I go by instinct. It just felt right, so I went with it.The it in question is one of those serendipitous situations that were created by the pandemic. Steve, a road dog and performance junkie who regularly spends 300+ days a year on the road, bringing it to the people, shouldve been on tour last year. Esteemed Nashville roots rockers The Wood Brothers (Chris Wood being a former neighbor to Steve), also shouldve been on tour. Stuck in Nashville, Steve often joined the Wood Brothers for outdoor socially distant hangs, and, on a whim, decided to record one song with Oliver Wood and Jano Rix. Over the years, the Nashville-based troubadour has built a fascinating solo catalog, earmarked by his debut, One Left Shoe, Dreamhouse, Folk Singer, and 2019s Shine On. No Depression crowned him, A sardonic provocateur with a lighthearted acoustic-driven wit, suggesting at times a sunnier, less psychedelic Todd Snider, or maybe a less wan, washed Jackson Brown, while the Associated Press dubbed him part busker, part Iggy Pop and part Robin Williams, a freewheeling folkie with a quick wit and big heart.Among other collaborations, GRAMMY-winning bluegrass phenom Billy Strings tapped him to co-write Leaders on 2021s Renewal and hes co-written with Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, Nicki Bluhm, Oliver Wood and even Mojo Nixon.Hes resumed his tour schedule, and when he comes to your town, hell say, as he does every night, This is the best show Ive ever played. And hell, maybe it just is.Ultimately, Steve never needed a plan. Hes something of a natural, after all.
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