It’s no secret that Morrison Hotel Gallery has quickly become the premier location to find images of musicians, shot by the world’s top lensmen. A veritable rock ‘n’ roll museum, the gallery’s two floors are a music lover’s dream, featuring captured moments of history on every wall.
This Saturday, June 10, the gallery crosses the line from a place that documents music history to one that also creates it when the Morrison Hotel hosts its first concert, featuring Steve Poltz.
Mexican rock icon Javier Batiz did play a few tunes at an opening for photographer Fernando Aceves last month, but that was a brief, impromptu set amid the hoopla of the occasion. For this concert, the gallery will include seating and a sound system, with a full performance from Poltz.
A prolific songwriter, Poltz has been packing them in at clubs across the country since his early ’90s days with The Rugburns. While he still plays the occasional gig with the band, these days he mostly takes the solo singer-songwriter route, with equally intense results. Poltz’s most recent album, “Chinese Vacation,” was released in 2003, but a new, as yet unnamed disc will be issued later this year. While he’ll definitely include a lot of favorites from his vast catalog of tunes, it’s likely that at least a few songs from the upcoming album will be included on the set list.
While three years might seem like a long time between releases, Poltz wasn’t exactly idle, touring most of that time, including several romps through Australia. In fact, his popularity in the land of the kangaroo is such that his only DVD to date, “Live at The Basement,” was filmed in Sydney, Australia.
A longtime area resident and music fan, it’s only natural that Poltz found his way to The Morrison Hotel Gallery.
“About a year ago, Steve visited the gallery and had mentioned that he thought it would be a cool place to perform at,” gallery owner Richard Horowitz said. “Basically, since that time, we’ve been trying to find the right tie-in to make it happen.”
Proceeds from the night will go to the “Lulu Blue Memorial Fund,” which was set up after the recent death of guitarist Buddy Blue to help Blue’s family.
“There had always been an idea to do this event for a charity, but we hadn’t really come to a decision as to who,” Horowitz explained. “After Buddy, who was a close friend of Steve’s and produced the Rugburns, passed away, it was obvious.”
Special guest for the night will be famed photographer Henry Diltz, who has been immortalizing musicians for four decades, taking thousands of iconic shots in the process. While his work appears in all forms of media, his best known images would likely include various album covers he has shot for The Doors, Crosby Stills & Nash and The Eagles. Most recently he has worked with a number of San Diego performers, including Cindy Lee Berryhill and Steph Johnson, as well as Poltz. In addition to the regular gallery display of Diltz’s photographs, two special pictures of Poltz have been prepared for this show. Signed by photographer and subject, proceeds will also go to the Lulu Blue Fund.
There are no plans for further performances at the gallery for the moment, but the possibility remains open.
“I certainly would consider it; it would just depend on how to tie everything in together. But odds are something will come up in the future,” Horowitz said. “I love doing charity stuff.”
The show begins at 8 p.m. at the Morrison Hotel Gallery, 1230 Prospect St. Tickets are $20. For information, call (858) 551-0835.