September 18, 2008
Mississippi bluesman Paul Thorn (also a one-time professional boxer, who was once pitted against former world champion Roberto Duran for a nationally televised match) graciously invited us out to his Summerfest performance in Milwaukee to capture this rousing and raucous Basement Tapes session.
Thorn and his traveling band turned in three great numbers from his latest full-length effort A Long Way From Tupelo (the spirited title track, along with the buoyant, gospel-infused blues of “What Have You Done To Lift Somebody Up” and the soulful “A Woman To Love,” a slow-burn blues number where Thorn’s impassioned vocal delivery mirrored that of Joe Cocker in his prime. He also delivered the beautifully-honed composition “I Have A Good Day” from his 1999 album Ain’t Love Strange, as well as the fire-and-brimstone, juke-joint rocker title track from his 2002 effort Mission Temple Fireworks Stand.
While Thorn may be best known as a musician first and professional boxer second, another one of his talents is that of engaging storyteller. Throughout his entire set Thorn opened nearly every number with a telling yarn relating to either his past experiences or the ensuing song - which helped draw his audience in even closer. Perhaps growing up with a father who was a Pentecostal preacher gave him the confidence and knowledge to deliver these well fleshed-out and often humorous stories, or that his own broad experiences in life just needed an outlet to be shared, but, whatever the case, this raconteur’s in-between song banter would have worked as well in a 19th century traveling medicine show as it does today in this touring blues-rock band.
Although this talented artist has been recording and performing his own music for the last decade, he’s yet to breakthrough to a more mainstream audience. With A Long Way From Tupelo not only cracking the Billboard Top 200 chart (the first of eight albums to do so) along with recent appearances on Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and NPR's World Cafe, it appears that this could be the closest thing to a true knockout since he laid down his boxing gloves many years ago.
- Tony Bonyata
LISTEN TO THE SESSION
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FREE DOWNLOADS:
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Paul Thorn - Long Way From Tupelo
Paul Thorn - What Have You Done To Lift Somebody Up
Paul Thorn - I Have A Good Day
Paul Thorn - A Woman To Love
Paul Thorn - Mission Temple Fireworks Stand
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VIDEO: Paul Thorn performing “I Have A Good Day”
VIDEO: Paul Thorn exclusive Basement Tapes interview
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PHOTO GALLERY
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For more info on Paul Thorn and to purchase his CDs go to:
http://www.paulthorn.com
This Basement Tapes remote session was recorded live at Summerfest at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse stage in Milwaukee, WI. Engineered by Gordon Rinda. Video by Gordon Rinda and Dan Bowman. Photographs by Phil Bonyata. Additional technical assistance by Dennis Martin.
Special thanks to Lindsay Evans at Summerfest for her help in coordinating this session.
For more info on Woodland Audio/Video go to:
http://www.woodlandaudio.com |
