Singer-songwriter, ex-boxer Paul Thorn coming to Plymouth's Spire Center

Listening to the songs on Paul Thorn’s latest album, “Never Too Late to Call,” with its thoughtful look at life, a common reaction might be that it is another result of pondering one’s existence during the pandemic. From the title cut about his late sister, to “Breaking Up for Good Again,” which considers the yin and yang of staying married, to “Holy Hottie Toddy,” which concludes that life might be easier and more enjoyable if we could “love everybody,” it deals with what matters most.

Thorn will headline The Spire Center for Performing Arts in Plymouth on Sept. 29. Thorn also plays the next night at the Bull Run in Shirley.

“I actually had finished the album before COVID hit,” said Thorn from a St. Louis tour stop. “Everything was put down and we were done with it but once COVID hit and we couldn’t tour, there was no reason to put it out right away. And then personally, I had COVID twice and the first time was really bad. The second time I had it was only a couple days and not so bad. But I survived and I am thankful for that, because a lot of friends and fans I knew didn’t.”

The loss of his sister Deborah in 2018 had hit Thorn hard, because among all the travel and ups and downs of a musician’s life she had been his sounding board, his late-night confessor.

Movie review: Viola Davis reigns supreme in historical epic 'The Woman King'

“My sister and I were really close and she inspired that song,” Thorn said. “She was a night owl and so I knew I could always call her after a show no matter where I was. She was very empathetic. I believe the best thing a person can be is a servant and that is what she was. She had time for anybody that needed something, whether it was a kind word or a hot meal. And so, my song 'Never Too Late to Call' is about that relationship we had, and I think that anybody who is lucky enough to have someone like that in their life relates to it."

Thorn, who grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi,  is one of the most compelling songwriters working in the Americana genre, with his songs plumbing that sacred/profane dichotomy that made performers like Jerry Lee Lewis so fascinating. A 2010 song (and album) was titled “Pimps and Preachers” while his 2018 album was “Don’t Let the Devil Ride.”

Thorn is practically a mythical character himself, a former professional boxer who retired with a 10-3 record as a middleweight, held the Mid-South title, and fought Roberto Duran in Atlantic City, New Jersey (losing by TKO after the sixth round). After that Thorn worked in a furniture factory for years before his musical abilities led to his debut album in 1997. Local fans will recall that he recently did a duet with Taunton native Kerri Powers on the Gregg Allman chestnut “Please Call Home” for her new album of classic covers.

“Breaking Up for Good Again” is one of the most striking tunes on the album, which eventually came out in August 2021. It’s actually a duet with his wife, where the lines reflect the ups and downs any couple encounters: “We both want out, we both want in, It’s over, but it never ends ...”

Naomi Rodgers on playing Tina Turner: 'Few female singers do rock 'n' roll like' her

“Well, that song is just about the struggles you have in any marriage,” Thorn said. “You can love each other but still get into it and need a short break. When I was writing it, she kept hearing what I was writing and singing along to it, so I thought, ‘Why not have her sing it with me? What better partner could I have for that duet?’ She’s been singing in church her whole life, but never onstage. I have to admit, bringing her down to the Grand Old Opry (Nashville) recently to sing it with me was a lot of fun.”

Thorn said he regrets he didn’t get a chance to do more duets with one of his role models, the late John Prine.

“I had this song ‘You Mess Around and Get a Buzz,' and I’d been talking to John down in the Dominican Republic when we were both there and he said he’d sing on my album,” Thorn said. “But then COVID got ahold of him and we lost him. There’s a reason John Prine was so beloved: He was the kind of character, like Muhammad Ali or Mr. Rogers, who made everyone feel special. I didn’t want to do a duet with him because he was better than me but just because we both felt it would be a fun moment.”

Other cuts on the album include the laidback reverie written for his daughter, “Sapphire Dream,” the acoustic love song “Apple Pie Moonshine,” and that rollicking “Holy Hottie Toddy” which suggests a Prine-like attitude might be the best approach to life.

“I believe in trying to love everybody, but you got to go through this life with caution lights on too,” Thorn said with a laugh. “I used to say there’s good in everybody but now I know that people exist who are pure evil, so you have to beware.”

Thorn will be performing on this tour with his four-piece backing band that includes Chris Simmons on guitar, Dr. Love (Michael Graham) on keyboards, Ralph Friedrichsen on bass and Jeffery Perkins on drums.

'A once-in-a-lifetime thing': Norwell's Jennifer Coolidge wins first Emmy Award

“I like performing as both a solo act and with a band,” said Thorn. “I’ve been doing both for over 20 years now, and like both, although they are two different animals. I’ve also got a good group of songs for my next album, although putting out records or CDs is so different these days. Unless you are Beyoncé, it is hard to draw much attention and there’s so much for people to look at online. I haven’t figured out how to get billions of hits on TikTok yet.”

Concert review: Aerosmith jumps back in the saddle with 'frenetic,' 'fiery' show at Fenway Park

Felice Brothers back on the road

One Boston-area show that flew mostly under the radar was the Felice Brothers’ stop on Sunday night at Brighton Music Hall before about 200 fans. The Catskills, New York, quartet released its latest record a year ago and “From Dreams to Dust” is their eighth album. With brothers Ian (guitar and vocals) and James Felice (keyboards and vocals) fronting the band, and Jesske Hume on bass and Will Lawrence on drums, the foursome delivered 77 minutes of raw and rowdy, on-the-edge-of-imploding roots music in what was believed to be their first Boston show in about five years.

Their songwriting, as always, tends toward storytelling, but often diverts into surreal cascades of images that are wildly imaginative. “Jazz on the Autobahn,” for example, is a dizzying frolic through contemporary happenings and a world gone slightly mad. “Inferno” casts a similar spell, a melancholy soul foray, but the accordion-fueled “Cherry Licorice” is an older Felice number that rides a bristling two-step to joyful abandon. There were hints of gospel in the stirring “We Shall Live Again,” which sought to appeal to “St. Francis of Assisi and fans of AC/DC.”  The encore segment roared with 2008's ramshackle romp “Whiskey in My Whiskey,” and concluded with a syncopated rave-up that involved a girl at a roller rink and was as close to rock/polka fusion as we ever want to get.

At Boston's Orpheum: 'It's Not Unusual' for Tom Jones to put on a great show

Stubbs & GA-20

There was big news for the blues trio GA-20 and ace guitarist Matt Stubbs over the weekend and it didn’t involve their hot new original album, "Crackdown," or ever-expanding tour schedule. Stubbs proposed to his longtime girlfriend, photographer and video artist Traci Hansen, and the plucky Canadian said yes. The couple are the proud parents of Bob the border collie. Best wishes to all.

Upcoming gigs: Lizzo, Aldous Collins, The National, The Jayhawks & more

THURSDAY: The Aldous Collins Band plays The Spire Center’s Lobby Series, and to no one’s surprise, it is already sold out. The Cowboy Junkies arrive at The Narrows Center. The 10-piece funk group Ghost-Note shakes up Soundcheck Studios. The Cults rock Brighton Music Hall. The National rocks out at Roadrunner. Lady A’s country sounds at MGM Music Hall.

FRIDAY: The Bennett-Matteo Band, such a hit at the North River Blues Festival last month, returns to headline The C-Note. Jonathan Edward sings at The Spire Center. The Virginia jam band Kendall Street Company debuts at Soundcheck Studios. The Jayhawks’ folk-rock The Narrows Center. Father John Misty’s inscrutable music at Leader Bank Pavilion.

SATURDAY: Maine’s superb alt-country sextet The Mallett Brothers Band takes over The Spire Center. Jake Bugg gets down at Royale. Draw the Line’s peerless Aerosmith tribute at The C-Note. The Infamous Stringdusters heat up The Paradise. The Get Up Kids take no prisoners at Brighton Music Hall.

MONDAY: Carly Rae Jepsen pops into Roadrunner.

TUESDAY: The Rag’n’Bone Man makes a trip to Royale necessary.

SEPT. 29: Brother Ali preaches at Brighton Music Hall.

SEPT. 30: The North Mississippi All Stars invade The Sinclair; Lizzo takes over the TD Garden.

See Paul Thorn

When: 8 p.m. Sept. 29

Where: The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25½ Court St., Plymouth

Tickets: $31.40 to $36

Info: 508-746-4488, sprirecenter.org

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. Please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Singer, ex-boxer Paul Thorn coming to Plymouth's Spire Center