Tommy Castro’s story is one of perseverance and triumph. After many years of playing the Bay Area blues bar scene and then more years crisscrossing the world from one joint to the next, at age 70 Tommy Castro is reaching new highs. His latest Alligator Records release Closer To The Bone is #1 on the Living Blues radio chart and #1 on the Roots Music Report album chart.
Already well-known in blues circles (he’s won the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award three times), he’s starting to break through even further. Castro is embarking on a month and a half trek through Europe. He’s playing the top blues festivals and cruises. He has a crackerjack band, The Painkillers, as his loyal compadres. In a world of beats and producer-driven drivel, how has his traditional, electric blues and soul music found success? Castro credits his 20-plus years of sobriety and his songwriting and cover song selection. He credits his audience that has been willing to follow his shifts and bring their friends to the shows, spreading the gospel organically. He credits his label and social media team. He credits his band and his mentors, like the late San Francisco urban legend Johnny Nitro. He credits Christoffer “Kid’ Anderson, who produced, recorded, mixed, and played on the new album. Castro should credit himself as well. His singing and guitar playing on the new record are very strong and authentic. His original songs fit right in with the older classics and lesser-known tunes from the likes of Ray Charles, Eddie Taylor, Wynonie Harris, Brownie McGhee, Ron Thompson, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Jimmy Nolen, Chris Cain, and Nitro himself. Because of the material and the instrumentation (guitar, bass, organ, piano, horns, harp, drums) this record has a timeless feel, it could have been made in any decade since the 1950’s. His “Crazy Woman Blues” sounds like it could have been written or performed by Buddy Guy sixty years ago (it would actually fit perfectly in Guy’s set right now).
In this extended audio/video interview with WBGO’s Dave Popkin, Castro details his musical roots, the time he went to John Lee Hooker’s house for what was likely the last recording the great man ever made, Taj Mahal stories, the Memphis sound, and what’s next in his career. Castro has been around long enough not to mess with success. He intimated that instead of changing gears between records, he may try to run it back with another vintage cover-heavy album in the same vein as Bone. Seems like a pretty good idea. Old is new again. Give the people what they want.
You can SEE Dave Popkin's entire interview with Tommy Castro here.
Tommy Castro and The Painkillers: “One More Night”:
Tommy Castro and The Painkillers: “Crazy Woman Blues”:
Tommy Castro “Make It Back To Memphis”:
Tommy Castro and The Doorslammers at Johnny Nitro tribute:
