MyJoog Blog: Paul Thorn

Showing posts with label Paul Thorn. Show all posts

Friday, October 4, 2013

Paul Thorn Rocks the 2013 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion

Perhaps one of the best performances given at the 2013 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. was by Paul Thorn as he performed songs from throughout his portfolio and then waded into the crowd on his closing number. I first heard Thorn many years ago when XM Radio played his song 800 LB Jesus. Like many, I was attracted to his folksy and disarming demeanor. But in the end, his songs are heartfelt, meaningful, clever, and always a good listen.

Thorn will be in the D.C. area November 21st as he opens for Joe Ely at The Birchmere. And here are two videos from the festival, the first of 800 LB Jesus and the second, of Thorn working the crowd. Cheers.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion -> One Month Out and Counting

Here is your one month reminder that the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion is coming up quickly - September 20th-22nd in Bristol VA\TN to be precise. This is always our favorite music festival, well organized, great musicians, great venues, and quality beer. Want to see Lucinda Williams on the main street stage, check. Want to see Scotty Melton in a small bar, check. Want to see American Aquarium in a rockn' beer bar, check. Like to camp out at one stage for the entire day? Then checkout Scythian, Chatham County Line, Paul Thorn, Shovels and Rope, Hayes Carll, and Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis all on the State Street Stage. Like a historic venue? Then nothing beats Jim Lauderdale or Chris Smither at The Paramount Center for the Arts. Got the idea? Plus, tickets are a complete bargain - a weekend pass is only $50; that's correct - $50 until September 1st. Then it rises to $70. Here is the total lineup but to help organize your schedule I would suggest the Bristol Mobile App - it makes festival life so much easier. And to make your road trip more enjoyable - theCompass mobile app will find wineries and breweries along your trip route. Cheers.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Two Williams to headline 2013 Rhythm & Roots: Lucinda and Keller

As if I needed more incentive to attend the 2013 Rhythm & Roots festival, the came out this week with another stellar lineup. From September 20^th-22^nd, the streets of Bristol Tennessee and Virginia will be packed with fans listening to the top names in Americana, Country, Bluegrass, Blues Indie-rock, and even celtic-punk courtesy of Enter the Haggis. Besides the obvious headliners, we will be targeting Chris Smither, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Elephant Revival, Paul Thorn, The Apache Relay, Della Mae, Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line, The New Familiars, Ed Snodderly, Woody Pines, Roger Rasnake, Scotty Melton, James McMurtry - as well as any other of the following acts the we stumble upon.

Lucinda Williams
Keller Williams
Masters of Bluegrass
Deer Tick
Blitzen Trapper
Colin Hay
Iris Dement
Hayes Carll
JD McPherson
James McMurtry
Paul Thorn
Scythian
The Apache Relay
The David Mayfield Parade
Travelin' McCourys, The
The Black Lillies
Shovels and Rope
Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out
Hey Rosetta
Della Mae
Pokey Lafarge and The South City Three
The Claire Lynch Band
Chatham County Line
Spirit Family Reunion
Levon Helm Tribute Show
Marty Raybon and Full Circle
Balsam Range
Elephant Revival
Enter the Haggis
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
Chris Smither
Folk Soul Revival
The Quebe Sisters
Red Molly
Bronze Radio Return
Whitey Morgan and the 78's
Sol Driven Train
Uncle Lucius
American Aquarium
Rayland Baxter
Breaking Grass
Carolina Road
Dave Eggar & Deoro with Hammerstep
Field Report
Detour
The Kenny and Amanda Smith Band
Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Revelers, The
Whiskey Gentry
Burning Bridget Cleary
Donna Ulissee
Frank Fairfield
Delta Reign
Bawn in the Mash
Erick Baker
Brothers Comatose, The
Caitlin Rose
Cactus Blossoms, The
Chicago Farmer
The New Familiars
Hey Marseilles
James Justin & Co.
Old Man Luedecke
Two Man Gentlemen Band
River Whyless
St Paul & The Broken Bones
Cumberland River
Defibulators, The
Ed Snodderly
Nightflyer
Virginia Luthiers, The
Cumberland Gap Connection
Blair Crimmins & The Hookers
Dale Jett
Dirty Bourbon River Show
This Mountain
Woody Pines
Duty Free
Harlow Experience, The
Miss Tess and the Talkbacks
Lizzy Ross Band
L Shape Lot
Old Line Skiffle Combo
Paul Burch
Tillers, The
Successful Failures, The
Annabelle's Curse
Hermit Kings, The
Leah Gardner
Corduroy Road, The
Barlow Gin & The Hatchetmen
Amber Rubarth Trio feat. Dave Eggar
Breaking Tradition
Bryan Elijah Smith & The Wild Hearts
If Birds Could Fly
Jon Stickley Trio
A Great Disaster
Wise Old River
Black Iron Gathering, The
ETSU Old Time Pride Band
ETSU Bluegrass Band
Sheets Family Band
Black Twig Pickers, The
Republik Steel
Cutthroat Shamrock
Dori Freeman
Honey Badgers, The
High Jump Heart, The
These Undowners
Scotty Melton
Earth by Train
Jack and the Bear
Ron Short and The Possum Playboys
JP Parsons
Mis'ry Creek
Still House
Al Scorch
Lore
Mountain Park Old Time Band
Nikki Talley
Roger Rasnake
Scratch River Telegraph Company
Amythyst Kiah
Annie Robinette
Beth Snapp
Craig Street Ramblers
Empty Bottle String Band
Jess Nunley
Kim Lyons
Rickshaw Roadshow
Rose Sisters, The
Wayne Graham
Whiskey Incident, The
Alli Epperson
Amazed by Grace
Dave Haney & Lisa Baldwin
Hart Creek
Honaker FFA Bluegrass Band
Mischief in the Meadow
Rex Montgomery

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

This Week at MyJoog

There's a strong Americana presence in the nation's capital this week starting tonight with John Mellencamp at DAR Constitution Hall. On Wednesday night, Slightly Stoopid comes to the Nightclub 9:30 and then Thursday we head west to WolfTrap in order to watch Paul Thorn. The following evening we either head back to DAR Constitution Hall to catch The Avett Brothers or head to Alexandria and The Birchmere to watch Tom Principato Band 'CD Release Show' which also includes Bill Kirchen. We finish the week back at Nightclub 9:30 for the second night of The Drive-By Truckers - who also play at the venue Friday night. Or we stay close to home and watch four entertaining local bands at The State Theatre: The Dreamscapes Project, Melodime, Crooked Crow, and Cobra Collective. And speaking of The State Theatre; the 25th annual Wammies show is scheduled for this Sunday the 20th with the after party at Bangkok Blues.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The Paul Thorn Band - Live in Your Home

On Saturday, January 29th Paul Thorn and the Paul Thorn Band are live broadcasting a concert from Muscle Shoals, Alabama - the music capital of the South. Never heard of Thorn? Here's what we had to say about the last time we saw him live: Paul Thorn & Patrick Sweany @ the Rams Head Onstage. The cost for a ticket is just $6.99 and like all pay per view events; you just need one ticket per household - invite friends, family, neighbors over. Got other plans for Saturday night like us. Then still purchase the ticket because the show will be available online for a month following the performance. We will be having Breakfast with the Paul Thorn Band Sunday morning. PURCHASE TICKETS HERE. Enjoy the show.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Paul Thorn & Patrick Sweany @ the Rams Head Onstage

Last night we attended the best concert of the year. Hands down. Paul Thorn with Patrick Sweany opening. Actually the night opened awkwardly as Sweany broke a string the very first song. But after a brief delay he showed why he is a rising star. His soulful vocals reflect a combination of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding and his guitar playing - pretty awesome. Expect a new CD from Sweany early next year. Can't wait.

Usually when an artist is pimping a new CD, you have to bear through the new songs to get to the older songs which made you follow the artist in the first place. That is what I was expecting for Thorn's Pimps & Preachers. Not this time. Yea, he played some old ones like Long Way from Tupelo and Burn Down The Trailer Park and Where Was I?; but his new songs were better than these classics. And as expected, the songs were laced with humor and morality lessons - particularly the lessons that make you think. For instance - "The more I learn they less I know" from I Hope I'm Doing This Right or the entire You Might Be Wrong, which brings up the interesting contradiction that with the diversity of religious thought - someone is wrong. And that coming from the son of a Pentecostal preacher. That also explains the title track - on one shoulder his father; on the other, his uncle - a pimp.He played practically the entire CD, Tequila Is Good For The Heart, Love Scar, Better Days Ahead and the hilarious I Don't Like Half The Folks I Love. The only disappointment is when the show ended - and it ended with classic Thorn as he walked off stage into the concert hall to personally thank fans for attending. Fortunately he's coming back to town next month, this time playing at the The Birchmere and then in October at the The 8X10 in Baltimore. I'm purchasing my ticket now.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Paul Thorn @ The Barns of Wolf Trap

The beauty of satellite radio is that it exposes us to a wider variety of music that we normally an not hear using traditional media sources. One of the first artists we heard on XM Radio X Country was Paul Thorn and his "800 Pound Jesus". This was instant classic in our household and eventually led us to Hammer & Nail, his debut CD and Mission Temple Fireworks Stand. Two great CDs. When Thorn released A Long Way from Tupelo last year, we immediately purchased it, and talking about a CD I can relate to. See Thorn and I are nearly the same age, and this CD expresses his version of a mid life crisis. Its not the standard fare wishing he was younger, but instead a self examination of his life - is he doing the right thing - the Gospel according to Thorn: we are accountable about how we treat other people. The son of a Pentecostal preacher, Thorn knows how to preach; but its not the in your face your a sinner message. Instead its encouragement for listeners to reflect on their own lives. Just listen to "What Have You Done To Lift Somebody Up". But it also seems that Thorn has a bottle of bourbon in his hand at the same time; everyone has their vices.

Thorn is a great storyteller and coming from Mississippi his music reflects blues, gospel, country, R&B, and Sun records classic rock n' roll. Not surprising the later since he was raised in Tupelo - the birthplace of Elvis. He's traveled a long road to his current situation. He learned to play the guitar at an early age and started writing songs almost immediately. He has had some interesting professions before becoming a professional musician; he was a professional boxer for awhile and even boxed Roberto Duran on national television. But eventually some smart people appreciated his talent and he slowly rose through the record label hierarchy.

We normally think of Thorn playing solo with his acoustic guitar, but for this tour, Thorn is traveling with a full band. This gives him a more rock n' roll sound and when you utilize outstanding musicians, you can't go wrong. Where did he find Bill Hinds. Tonight at Wolf Trap - The Barns he started with the full band, opening with "Mood Ring" and then following with songs from A Long Way from Tupelo. The audience sung along with "I'm Still Here", which includes our favorite line: "Father Time is undefeated". They also played the title track, "What Have You Done To Lift Somebody Up" and "Stavin' For Your Kisses". Halfway though, the band left the stage and Thorn played solo for a few songs. Here is when you can really appreciate his unique gritty voice and song writing skills. While he was playing "800 Pound Jesus", the band slowly returned each member joining in when ready. It was a nice touch. After several more songs they finished with a tent revival encore. Thorn called for the audience to rush the stage and eventually hopped down to walk through the crowd. All the while the Paul Thorn Band jammed on. An appropriate ending for a great evening.