Paul Thorn has had quite a life! He got into the ring with Roberto "Hands of Steel" Duran on national television. (Both ended up at Atlantic City Medical Center, and Paul reaped a great song, "I'd Rather Be a Hammer Than a Nail.") He's the son of a Pentecostal preacher who rode the tent-revival circuit. He paints. He had his first singing gig at age three. He comes from Tupelo, Mississippi, and absorbed the power of gospel music just like another famous native of that town. And he ties it all together in original songs, masterpieces of gutbucket storytelling country and soul with a fearless confessional streak (and often very funny). Paul’s new album, Too Blessed To Be Stressed, stakes out new territory for the popular roots-rock songwriter and performer. “In the past, I’ve told stories that were mostly inspired by my own life,” Paul says. “This time, I’ve written ten songs that express more universal truths, and I’ve done it with a purpose: to make people feel good.” The title track borrows its tag from a familiar saying among the members of the African American Baptist churches Paul frequented in his childhood. “I’d ask, ‘How you doin’, sister?’ And what I’d often hear back was, ‘I’m too blessed to be stressed.’” Canadian alternative country and folk band The Brothers Landreth, whose debut release just won the Juno award for Best Roots Album of the year, are tonight's openers.