BIOGRAPHY(Allmusic by Cub Koda)
According to all the press and hype and hoopla, Tommy Castro is pegged as the next big star of the blues. Long a favorite among Bay Area music fans, Castro — in the space of two album releases — has taken his music around the world and back again with a sheaf of praise from critics and old-time blues musicians alike. His music is a combination of soul-inflected rockers with the occasional slow blues or shuffle thrown into the mix to keep it honest. His vocals are laid-back and always a hair behind the beat, while his scorching guitar tone is Stevie Ray Stratocaster-approved. Crossover success does not seem out of the question.
Born and raised in San Jose, CA, Castro started playing guitar at the tender age of ten. Initially inspired by Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, and Elvin Bishop, he started the inevitable journey into the roots of his heroes and discovered and quickly became enamored of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, and Freddie King. His vocal styling came from constant listening to Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, and Otis Redding. After playing with numerous Bay Area groups honing his chops, he landed a gig playing guitar for the San Francisco band the Dynatones, who were then signed to Warner Brothers. The two-year stint augured well for Castro, playing to the biggest crowds he had seen up to that point and backing artists as diverse as Carla Thomas and Albert King.
Returning to San Francisco, Castro formed his own group and in 1993 released his first self-produced album, No Foolin', on the dime-sized Saloon label. That same year also saw him winning the Bay Area Music Award for Best Club Band, an honor he duplicated the following year. Working as the house band on NBC's Comedy Showcase, airing after Saturday Night Live, only boosted his visibility and name value. In 1997, he won Bammies for Outstanding Blues Musician and for Outstanding Blues Album for his debut release on Blind Pig Records, Exception to the Rule. Also in 1997 Castro and his band began a three-year stint working as the house band on NBC's Comedy Showcase, which aired after Saturday Night Live.
Live at the Fillmore was released in early 2000, and with everyone from industry insiders to B.B. King singing his praises, Castro appeared to be headed for bigger and better things. It was not to be, however, as in 2001 he left Blind Pig Records and recorded Guilty of Love for the small 33rd Street label. Blind Pig closed the books on their association with Castro in 2002 by releasing the career retrospective The Essential Tommy Castro. Gratitude appeared from Heart and Soul in 2003, followed by Triple Trouble (with Jimmy Hall and Lloyd Jones) later that same year from Telarc. 2005 saw Castro return to the Blind Pig label for the release of Soul Shaker, followed by Painkiller in 2007.
Born and raised in San Jose, CA, Castro started playing guitar at the tender age of ten. Initially inspired by Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, and Elvin Bishop, he started the inevitable journey into the roots of his heroes and discovered and quickly became enamored of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, and Freddie King. His vocal styling came from constant listening to Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, and Otis Redding. After playing with numerous Bay Area groups honing his chops, he landed a gig playing guitar for the San Francisco band the Dynatones, who were then signed to Warner Brothers. The two-year stint augured well for Castro, playing to the biggest crowds he had seen up to that point and backing artists as diverse as Carla Thomas and Albert King.
Returning to San Francisco, Castro formed his own group and in 1993 released his first self-produced album, No Foolin', on the dime-sized Saloon label. That same year also saw him winning the Bay Area Music Award for Best Club Band, an honor he duplicated the following year. Working as the house band on NBC's Comedy Showcase, airing after Saturday Night Live, only boosted his visibility and name value. In 1997, he won Bammies for Outstanding Blues Musician and for Outstanding Blues Album for his debut release on Blind Pig Records, Exception to the Rule. Also in 1997 Castro and his band began a three-year stint working as the house band on NBC's Comedy Showcase, which aired after Saturday Night Live.
Live at the Fillmore was released in early 2000, and with everyone from industry insiders to B.B. King singing his praises, Castro appeared to be headed for bigger and better things. It was not to be, however, as in 2001 he left Blind Pig Records and recorded Guilty of Love for the small 33rd Street label. Blind Pig closed the books on their association with Castro in 2002 by releasing the career retrospective The Essential Tommy Castro. Gratitude appeared from Heart and Soul in 2003, followed by Triple Trouble (with Jimmy Hall and Lloyd Jones) later that same year from Telarc. 2005 saw Castro return to the Blind Pig label for the release of Soul Shaker, followed by Painkiller in 2007.
REVIEW
(Allmusic by Al Campbell)
(Allmusic by Al Campbell)
Tommy Castro's sixth release for the Blind Pig label, Painkiller, picks up where his 2003 set, Soul Shaker, left off. This time around, producer John Porter — who has worked with Santana, Taj Mahal, B.B. King, and Buddy Guy — positions Castro's Delbert McClinton/Southside Johnny vocal grit in front of a punchy horn section and rounds out the date with a few guest artists. Unlike many similar modern blues projects of good intentions but lackluster performances, the combinations on Painkiller never sound forced. In particular, the Albert Collins track, "A Good Fool Is Hard to Find," has Coco Montoya and Castro trading vocal jabs and guitar riffs, and Angela Strehli's passionate vocal on Freddie King's "If You Believe (In What You Do)" is likewise another highlight of this overall triumphant rock 'n' soul album.
CREDITS
Lenny Castro /Percussion
Tommy Castro /Guitar, Vocals
Keith Crossan /Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor), Horn Arrangements
Keith Crossman /Horn Arrangements
Bonnie Hayes /Vocals (bckgr)
Teresa James /Piano, Vocals (bckgr)
Randy McDonald /Bass
Coco Montoya /Guitar, Vocals
Tom Poole /Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Horn Arrangements
Chris Sandoval /Drums
Tony Stead /Piano, Organ (Hammond), Wurlitzer
Angela Strehli /Vocals
TRACKS
1 Love Don't Care /Bowe, Castro/ 3:47
2 I'm Not Broken /Castro, Hall/ 3:45
3 Painkiller /Castro, Nicholson/ 3:49
4 Big Sister's Radio /Schermer/ 4:13
5 A Good Fool Is Hard to Find /Collins/ 4:40
6 Err on the Side of Love /Castro, Silbar/ 3:45
7 I Roll When I Rock /Castro, Hayes/ 3:36
8 If You Believe (In What You Do) /King/ 4:43
9 It's That Time Again /Castro/ 4:13
10 Goin' Down South /Castro, Wilson/ 3:40
11 Lonesome and Then Some /Castro, Silbar/ 4:44
12 It Ain't Easy Bein' Me /Bruton, Castro/ 3:05
DOWNLOAD
Lenny Castro /Percussion
Tommy Castro /Guitar, Vocals
Keith Crossan /Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor), Horn Arrangements
Keith Crossman /Horn Arrangements
Bonnie Hayes /Vocals (bckgr)
Teresa James /Piano, Vocals (bckgr)
Randy McDonald /Bass
Coco Montoya /Guitar, Vocals
Tom Poole /Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Horn Arrangements
Chris Sandoval /Drums
Tony Stead /Piano, Organ (Hammond), Wurlitzer
Angela Strehli /Vocals
TRACKS
1 Love Don't Care /Bowe, Castro/ 3:47
2 I'm Not Broken /Castro, Hall/ 3:45
3 Painkiller /Castro, Nicholson/ 3:49
4 Big Sister's Radio /Schermer/ 4:13
5 A Good Fool Is Hard to Find /Collins/ 4:40
6 Err on the Side of Love /Castro, Silbar/ 3:45
7 I Roll When I Rock /Castro, Hayes/ 3:36
8 If You Believe (In What You Do) /King/ 4:43
9 It's That Time Again /Castro/ 4:13
10 Goin' Down South /Castro, Wilson/ 3:40
11 Lonesome and Then Some /Castro, Silbar/ 4:44
12 It Ain't Easy Bein' Me /Bruton, Castro/ 3:05
DOWNLOAD
