~ Live Show Review ~ ...with RealAudio accompaniment. Because Paul Thorn and his management have a clue, they've given us permission to provide entire songs in RealAudio. Click on the link at the beginning of the review to hear 8 of our favorite songs from this show. If you don't already have it, download the latest FREE version of the Real Audio player here. And be sure to integrate it into your browser so that it opens automatically when you click on a file. Or get your kid to do it for you.
Dream DatePaul Thorn, solo, live at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz, California, 2/26/00, produced by Snazzy Productions. Reviewed by Jane Doe.
RealAudio: 8 great songs from this show. Listen while you read the review, and check out Paul's stuff in the Snazzy Mercantile -- see link at end of review.
So there I was at about 1:30 in the afternoon cleaning house; you know -- sweats, sweaty, hat hair and no lipstick. Then my daydreamy phone rings and its none other than Paul Thorn. "Hey Angel, could you …" Well, only in dreamland do such dreams come true; like, for instance, at the Kuumbwa when Paul Thorn simmers into town and boils the house down for two sold out shows.
I decided to get dressed and go downtown early for some dinner. As I was leaving the restaurant to head over to the Kuumbwa, guess who was in the other booth? Yes, it's true, Paul Thorn, Billy Maddox and Rick Katy. What luck! "What are you guys havin', Blue Stew or Biscuits and Gravy?" After they laughed and chatted a bit, just small talk about how they spent their day, I headed over to the club.
There is really something very pleasing about being able to walk into a packed house and know what you're in for -- but what I got was even better.
Paul opened the show with a sweet ditty called "A Long Way From Tupelo". This song reminds you of the "little" things we sometimes forget when we find ourselves so far from home and just how seductive a "white cotton dress" can be. Next came "Blue Stew"; a stew made up of all the things you never forget. Paul's deep rich voice sounded so warm you could almost feel it.
Paul went from song to song and the audience kept right up with him. There was no problem if he should forget a word or two because we were all there to sing along. Paul did not forget any words -- in fact he did all my favorites perfectly.
At about the sixth song, "800 Pound Jesus", it was time for a short story. Well … you've heard of Sawyer Brown, and they've heard of Paul. Paul was flying out to meet Sawyer Brown to film a music video of "800 Pound Jesus", in which Paul played the part of a homeless angel. Homeless?, don't bet on it; Angel?, most definitely! You can be sure I will be in front of my TV and so should you.
Moving right along; one song I really loved was "Buckskin Jones' Illegitimate Son". You have to give this a listen because it will touch all of your emotions in a twisted sort of way. Paul sings it very sweetly -- no, really -- with just a little wit and wry. Believe it or not, it's a song about the "greatest cowboy in the world". In another great song, "Two Dogs In Heat", Paul serves up a snippy little reminder of what fun dating can be.
In case you were thinking of cutting out early -- as if! -- Paul got us all fired up with a song called "Mission Temple Fireworks Stand". He needed back-up singers for the chorus and how could we not oblige him? As he told us about the minister who left the church to sell fireworks, and all about the tent revival that doubled as a fireworks stand, we dutifully chimed in on cue: "holy Pentecostal, fire and brimstone, big bang theory, mission temple fireworks stand!!" Loud and clear. He was very grateful, I'm sure, for our help.
Two sold out shows, an excellent performance, a very enjoyable evening had by one and all. Paul Thorn is quite the storyteller and his voice is good too! No really, you won't want to miss Paul Thorn next time around. His unassuming charm and charismatic wit will keep you entertained for some time. Or, if you buy his CD, forever.
For more Paul Thorn stuff, click here. (Photos by Meribeth Malone.)
(Songs recorded at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center on 2/26/00. Mix by Julie Rix. Recorded by Dave Nielsen of Technica Gratia Artes.)
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