Steve Poltz

Once leader of the raucous and wonderful Rugburns band, Steve Poltz has gone on to record a series of hit-and-miss CDs, and place his songs on quite a few soundtracks. A talent definitely worth indulging, Poltz remains a great live performer — waggish, romantic, often hilarious, always full of surprises. He co-wrote Jewel’s smash “You Were Meant for M,” and has also collaborated with Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze and Mojo Nixon — who else could drop those three disparate names? The San Diego songwriter is featuring material from a new double-disc recorded in Australia, “Noineen Noiny Noin.” And he’s vowed to give much of the proceeds from this gig to old pal Slim Dunlap’s recovery fund — a noble gesture. Tom Surowicz