guys for a bit when in walked Billy Maddox. I had not seen Billy in a few years, and it was indeed great seeing him again. After talking a while it was 15 minutes until show time, so Hal and I said goodbye and made our way back to the tale. The guys started with an acoustic set. The
band includes Paul Thorn, guitar and vocals; Bill Hinds, lead guitar; Ralph Friedrichsen, bass; and Jeffrey Perkins, drums. Starting off with “I’m Still Here,” the guys delivered the goods on a ten-song set that featured Thorn classics like “Turnip Greens,” the beautiful “That’s Life,” and the poignant “Things Left Undone.” The set ended with Paul’s theme song, “Hammer and Nail” As always, Paul’s banter with the audience was fun and often hilarious. My friend Hal, who had never seen Thorn before, kept talking about how natu- rally funny Paul is, and what a great all around entertainer. Ditto. Following a brief intermission, the band re-
turned to the stage with their electric instru- ments in tow. Paul kicked off “Mission Temple Fireworks Stand,” and the packed house was cheering as the PTB moved right into more great music, including the hilari- ous “Burn Down the Trailer Park,” “Pimps and Preachers,” “Too Blessed to Be Stressed,” and the gospel tinged “Shelter Me Lord,” and the Elvin Bishop penned “What The Hell is Goin’ On?” I was happy to hear Paul’s version of “Doctor My Eyes” from the Jackson Browne tribute album, as well as one of my favorite songs that I heard him play at his solo show the first time I saw him perform back in 1996. Paul and the boys ended with “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” perhaps the most optimistic song ever. Of course they were brought back out for an encore “Take My Love with You,” with Paul jumping into the audience to wade through the crowd while singing. Pretty cool. It was one of those magical nights that you
just don’t want to end. I seem to have one of those nights every time I see a Paul Thorn
show, whether it is a solo acoustic show or like tonight, a full on Paul Thorn Band show, with the amazing slide guitar of Mike Hinds, the tasteful keys of Michael Graham, and the world’s most dangerous rhythm section of Jeffrey and Ralph. Just an amazing, fun show. If you get a chance to catch this band, by all means, do it.
- Michael Buffalo Smith
ACOUSTIC SET I’m Still Here You Might Be Wrong Things Left Undone A Lot of Good Reasons That’s Life Don’t Let Nobody Rob You of Your Joy Turnip Greens I Backslide on Friday When The Long Road Ends I’d Rather Be a Hammer Than a Nail
ELECTRIC SET Mission Temple Fireworks Stand Burn Down The Trailer Park Pimps & Preachers Too Blessed to Be Stressed Shelter Me Lord Resurrection Day Everybody Looks Good at the Starting Line Everybody Needs Somebody Love Scar What the Hell is Goin’ On? Doctor My Eyes Accept My Love Mood Ring Mediocrity is King Bull Mountain Bridge Everything’s Gonna Be Alright
Encore: Take My Love With You
•
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66