Paul Thorn

A consummate storyteller, singer-songwriter Paul Thorn takes a break from talking about himself on his new album Too Blessed To Be Stressed. Instead, he chooses to focus on observations about everyday life and the current state of the world. He has said the songs are about “universal truths,” and they tend toward the positive. For the title track, for example, he borrowed a saying from a friend of his and paired it with a meaty guitar hook. There’s not a bad song on the album, which is another great offering from a guy who came to music late in his life but has become a real American treasure. While he sometimes plays solo, he’ll have his terrific band on hand for this gig. (Niesel)