Tommy Castro
Friday, Aug. 1
9-11 p.m.
Americaplatz
About Tommy Castro
Tommy Castro is one of the most popular and creative roots artists to emerge in recent years. On his newest CD, Painkiller, Castro teamed up with producer John Porter, renowned for his work with a Who's Who list of artists such as Los Lonely Boys, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Santana, B.B. King, Elvis Costello, and Buddy Guy. Everything indeed just seems right about Painkiller. With the Tommy Castro Band anchoring the sessions, Porter has fashioned a most tasteful album from the many talented parts of Castro's patented rock 'n' soul music.
Tommy's career has been marked by one triumph after another. Considering his innate charisma and his skills as a supremely talented guitarist, gifted vocalist, and engaging songwriter, it is easy to see why Castro has enjoyed so much success so quickly. In a remarkably short time, he went from performing at a tiny San Francisco saloon to opening act on B.B. King's national tours and international acclaim as one of the most compelling artists on the scene.
Industry trades took notice, calling him "an up and coming blues phenom," Billboard said, "Castro combines the earthy soulfulness of Albert Collins and B.B. King with the polish of Robert Cray." And importantly, radio's insider "bible," The Gavin Report, said of the album: "Castro has etched one of those rare blues records that rises above the usual cliches of the genre. Castro is the awesome exception to the blues rule... the next blues rock hero."
The national publication Blues Access, highlighted Castro's burgeoning appeal: "If you're looking for driving blues-rock with soulful vocals and a Southern accent, your search is over. This is party music, good-time music with the potential to appeal to an audience outside of the blues crowd."
Tommy has wowed and won fans on every stage he's performed on, with is riveting presence growing stronger by the year. In 2000, to demonstrate Castro's remarkable charisma and ability to command a stage, Blind Pig released Live At The Fillmore, both as a long form video (on DVD and VHS) and an enhanced CD. The San Francisco Chronicle said "Castro's loose-jointed blues-rock sound is captured in all its onstage glory. He has distilled the essence of great bar bands everywhere and put his personal stamp on it at the same time." Blues Revue said the live disc "demonstrates Castro's strengths as a singer, guitarist, and bandleader. His rapport with the audience-and his sheer joy in performing-highlight this tight set."
Prominent observers of the blues have extolled Tommy's dynamic musicianship and pointed to him as being among a small few that represent the future of the blues. B.B. King was so enamored of the Tommy Castro Band that he invited them to be openers on his 2001 concert tour, and again in 2002. When teenaged Castro bought his very first blues album (B.B. King's Live at the Cook County Jail) and listened to it incessantly, trying to copy the guitar licks, he never dreamed that one day he'd be sitting side by side on a concert stage actually playing those licks with B.B. himself. In all, the band played over eighty concert dates with "the King of the blues."
And Carlos Santana, who's also invited Castro to share the stage with him, said of Tommy, "The blues is in good hands. This is the person who has the voice, the sound, and the right intentions to touch everybody's heart."
Tommy Castro and his brilliant band have captured a hold of legions of fans and critics alike around the world with their mesmerizing blend of rock, blues and Memphis soul. On Painkiller, style and soul, they continue to explore the boundaries of American roots music.
