On Sunday September 14, 2025 I headed out to Novato California and the Hopmonk Novato. KC Turner put on a splendid show for his Cookout Concert Series featuring Megan Slankard, The T Sisters and the headliner, Steve Polz. What a show it was! I think to artists had as much fun as the crowd on this one.
Megan Slankard opened the show, captivating the crowd right from the start. She began with “You Got This”, a fantastic song that set a positive tone for the evening with its incredible lyrics. The next piece was “Dirty Wings”, which kicked off with the striking line, “You’re so phony,” establishing a lively pace for the performance.
Following this, she transitioned into “When I Was a Bird”, a brand-new song that she had debuted on Patreon the previous month, highlighted by a quick guitar tune. Next came “California”, featuring strong guitar riffs, perfectly complemented by the steady beat of the drummer.
The atmosphere then shifted with “Listen to the Hum”, a mellow song that captured the audience’s attention. After that, she performed “825”, a seemingly cheerful musical piece juxtaposed with deeply melancholic lyrics, making for an intriguing contrast.
Following this was “A Token of the Wreckage”, a punk song she wrote in her kitchen. It was upbeat, with great lyrics, and had the potential to be a punk hit. As the show came to a close, Megan received a strong round of applause from the audience.
Follow Megan Slankard band members on social media
Megan Slankard – guitar, vocals
Jeff Simon – bass
Kyle Caprista – drums
Setlist
1). You Got This
2). Dirty Wings
3). When I Was a Bird
4). California
5). Listen to the Hum
6). 825
7). A Token of the Wreckage
When The T Sisters took the stage, it was an incredible experience. They began with the Madonna hit “Like a Virgin,” which became a running theme throughout their set. Their reimagining of it was outstanding as they jammed along. As they progressed through their performance, they played songs like “Found a Way to Live,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “Grow the Fuck Up.” The ladies’ harmonies were enchanting as they rocked through their numbers. They even had a fantastic sing-along for “Grow the Fuck Up,” with the crowd joining in wholeheartedly. When they started “Woo Woo,” it showcased excellent harmonies and was truly a standout song. The final track of the set was a poignant tune that resonated with themes of togetherness and the importance of friends and family. Overall, it was a fantastic performance, and I look forward to seeing them again soon.
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Erika Tietjen – guitar, vocals
Rachel Tietjen – bass, vocals
Chloe Tietjen – percussion, vocals
Rory Cloud – guitar
No Setlist Available
Steve Poltz hit the stage with what felt like a comedy act. He began by telling a very funny story about getting a new guitar, becoming a pipe nipple salesman, and experiencing a collapsed lung. He then shared his experience of being audited by the IRS and how the former controller of the San Diego Padres came to his rescue. What a quirky dude that accountant was! He also talked about the money he made touring with Jewel, noting he was audited on that income as well.
It was time for a song, so he performed “Steeple Chase Lane,” followed by “Steeple Chase Lane 2,” which he wrote to match the tuning of the first song. He also delivered an a cappella rendition of the Palm Springs High School song, which was fantastic. For the second a cappella performance, he sang “Fence Around My Heart,” introducing it with a humorous story about being a camp counselor. He invited the crowd to sing along, and they absolutely nailed it!
Afterward, he picked up his guitar again to play “Silver Lining,” a great song about current events. Next was a brand-new song, so fresh it didn’t even have a title yet. Following that was an instrumental piece called “Little Martha.” He recounted an experience at a songwriter’s camp that he didn’t initially want to attend but ended up loving.
He then performed an industrial song that touched the crowd. Steve spoke about the Bear Creek Music Festival, where he got to share the stage with Loudon Wainwright III. He humorously recounted how he once met Loudon years ago, and how Loudon’s son, Rufus, had fun touring with Steve and Lisa Loeb. Rufus even joked to his dad, “I met your illegitimate son; his name is Steve Poltz.” The crowd was laughing hard.
Next up was “Folk Singer,” a song that had everyone singing along to the chorus. Steve was clearly having a blast. He followed with a self-deprecating song that was a hoot, illustrating how fun it can be when an artist jokes about themselves. He then performed “Lulu’s Back in Town,” which was a lively number, playfully referring to doing anything for half a buck.
For the next set, he created an impressive compilation of songs by Pink Floyd, Queen, Kansas, The Beatles, Vince Taylor, The Sex Pistols, and The Modern Lovers, which was fantastic. Up next was “Petricor,” another new song from his upcoming album. His guitar work sped up, and the audience loved it; it was a real banger.
Steve shared a story about a recent festival in Texas where he performed alongside Robert Earl Keen. Robert called him the weirdest person he had ever met, and their hug afterwards was memorable. In a humorous twist, Steve shared how he got pulled over for driving without his lights on but was let go without a ticket.
As the show approached its conclusion, he played “Birds of a Feather,” a huge hit. The following song was “I’m In It for the Long Haul,” which he prefaced with a hilarious anecdote about his two roommates who only spoke in “dude language” and had a “bag of porn.” For the finale, Steve brought Megan Slankard and the T Sisters on stage, and they all sang “This Land Is Our Land,” performing it to perfection. The audience was thrilled to have them there.
No Setlist Available
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