Jewel Co-Writer Steve Poltz Beeped the Crepe Place

San Diegan Steve Poltz co-wrote one of Jewel's biggest hits, "You Were Meant for Me," but the work he does on his own is nowhere near mainstream.

His Thursday night show at Santa Cruz's Crepe Place featured three songs off his disc, "Answering Machine," which is comprised of 54 45 second songs he wrote as answering machine messages. His young niece and nephew love one of them called "Sugar Boogers," but it isn't going to crack the Top 40 anytime soon, especially with Dr. Demento gone.  It was funny for adults too.

In writing short and sweet, Poltz, 51, is like the old Ohio indie rockers, Guided by Voices. Any of these songs could be expanded into full-blown melodies, maybe even hits, but the album leaves you wanting more.

He played longer versions to great satisfaction in a set that was punctuated by BEEP after each of the songs from that album. It was so quirky and loveable, you'd have figured he was originally from Santa Cruz, not Halifax.

Poltz played in the cult band, the Rugburns, before going solo.

To keep things more interesting than most singer-songwriters, Poltz had an array of effects for voice and guitar. He even had a separate microphone fed through effects that made him sound like the demon from The Exorcist.

He also was a high-tech marketer, selling copies of the live concert after it was over, and offering albums in cultish vinyl with a digital copy attached.

The set was bright, snappy, infinitely charismatic, and frankly, was a tough act to follow for more established songwriter, Peter Case. Hard to beat a one-man show with the variety of five men.

Check the short samples on the right.

PS: Poltz talked about a songwriting workshop he gives at Yosemite with Mother Hips frontman Tim Bluhm, which has openings and sounded great. They compose and work on songs by the campfire in the national park.