Texan Paul Cauthen to bring country rock, big velvety voice to Lexington

Raised in rural Texas, Paul Cauthen — who will perform at Manchester Music Hall May 3 — is country to the core.

The country singer, also known as “Big Velvet” — a nickname bestowed on him by a fan running a taco truck in Dallas — was introduced to music at an early age through the church where his grandfather worked as music director and preacher. However, despite his strong religious ties to his upbringing, Cauthen says he’s always felt most at home outside being one with nature.

“I love the outdoors, especially the conservation side of things with hunting and fishing,” says Cauthen. “Nature is the reason why I go to work. I love music, but it can get exhausting constantly keeping up with your brand and persona on the road. Returning home to the outdoors after time away is always a big reset that helps to make me feel normal again.”

Cauthen leans into his country lifestyle on his latest album Country Coming Down, touching on everything from what defines country living to proving his doubters wrong along the way. Perhaps the most explicit example of this on the record comes on the opening track, “Country As F--k,” a comedic, tongue-in-cheek tune that highlights things thought of as inherently country while also shouting out artists like Lil Nas, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson and Kenny Chesney, singing:

“NASCAR, dive bar, fireworks, guitar/ Riding mower, landowner, ‘83 Texoma/ I was driving tractors before it got sexy/ Real cowboys don’t rock to Kenny Chesney.”

“I was thinking, ‘Man, I can do this ... better than all these guys in Nashville,’” says Cauthen. “We ended up making a list of everything we thought of as country — catfish, skinny dipping, you name it. I kind of feel bad for Kenny Chesney, though, because I have nothing against him and the line mentioning him has become a favorite for fans to sing along to. He’s probably on a boat somewhere sipping a Mai Tai and giving me the middle finger.”

If it wasn’t apparent from the song, Cauthen longs for the easygoing rural life just as much as he loves being on the road. He touches on this dichotomy with album closer “Country Coming Down,” an intimate, stripped-back tune that sees Cauthen singing about getting away to his oasis, a cabin in the country far away from the city lights with a couple of lazy hounds and a supper he’s grown himself.

“It’s about paying attention to the little things like a crackling campfire, fireworks or the dog jumping into the lake to fetch a stick,” says Cauthen. “So many people are sick and unwell in today’s world, so I wanted to write something on their behalf since they may not have the opportunity to experience those things. And it doesn’t necessarily even need to be a cabin in the woods. It can be a little apartment in the city or on a beach somewhere with a Corona in hand. It’s all about you finding your own paradise.”

Part of finding your paradise is also about ignoring your haters, something Cauthen illustrates on “F--k You Money,” a rocking anthem about people who don’t believe you can succeed and then proceed to hop on your bandwagon once you prove them wrong. According to Cauthen, the song’s title comes from being well off enough financially now to not even care about the people trying to bring negative energy into his life.

“The song is for all the people who’d rather take shots in the corner of the party with your money while also talking crap about you,” says Cauthen. “It flips the script by me not caring about them or what they think ...All I care about now is putting on a good concert.”

Matt Wickstrom is a freelancer covering food, music and more. You can follow him on Instagram at @WickstromWrites .

Paul Cauthen with Joshua Ray Walker

When: May 3, 8 p.m.

Where: Manchester Music Hall, 899 Manchester St.

Tickets: $35 at ManchesterMusicHall.com