Steve Poltz Made Me Do It

In the dying days of 2016 I decided that I would go along to my local boozer, Republic Bar and Cafe, and see a fellow called Steve Poltz play.  I had never heard of Steve Poltz but my Facebook feed was telling me that he was a folk singer out of the US.  I love folk music but I also recognise that their are a lot of so called folkies out there that are absolute rubbish.  My expectations were low.  I had a quick look on Youtube and he looked ok and it was a good excuse to have a couple of quiet ciders on a Thursday night.

A couple of pre-pub drinks at home, McHenry's Sloe Gin Royale, and I was ready for a relaxing night at the pub. 

I set myself up at the bar just metres from the stage with a pint of my favourite Willie Smith cider.  Then a slightly unusual looking bloke came on and started singing and telling stories.  I was captivated.  This guy was hilarious and interesting and a damn good songwriter to boot.  Check out his songs Sewing Machine and Dave's Automotive - trippy.

The night was great fun and I reflected on how easily I could have missed seeing Steve and what a tragedy that would have been.  It was then that I set myself a couple of New Year's resolutions.  I don't usually go in for such rubbish but Steve (and the fact that I was on to my second pint) made me do it.

1.   Become a Patron of the Arts
2.   Support Local Producers

Translation:  Go to the pub, see a band, drink local booze.

I then began to think about what would success look like (on to my third pint).  How many live acts, plays, art exhibitions, cinema events does a person need to see in a calendar year to be considered "a Patron of the Arts".  According to Mick Thomas and the Sure Thing on their Spin, Spin, Spin album I just need to let a struggling musician sleep on my floor.  Surely, there is more to it than that.  Do I need to see one act a week?  52 arts events - even with a full time job I could do that.  If I attend a music festival is that one art event or a number of acts?  Each act has its own back story and touches the listener in a different way so I think that they categorised as a number of different "arts interactions".  If that is the case then I reckon I could achieve more than one a week.  101 art interactions in a year has a nice ring to it.  This of course needs to be matched with imbibing of local liquor.  It's going to be a fun year.