If Blues Vocalist/Guitarist Tommy Castro is a name you’re not familiar with then here’s a taste from the bio: “Over the course of his still-unfolding career, the guitarist, vocalist and songwriter has released 15 albums ranging from horn-fueled soul and R&B to piping hot blues to fiery rock ‘n’ roll. He’s performed all over the world, earning countless fans with his legendary, sweat-drenched, exhilarating live shows. Castro’s band, The Painkillers—bassist Randy McDonald, drummer Bowen Brown and keyboardist Michael Emerson—have now been playing together over four years. After hundreds of live shows, they have coalesced into one of the telepathically tightest units Castro has ever assembled, making them one of the most in-demand live roots music acts performing today.”
The great news for Blues fans is that Tommy Castro and the Painkillers have finally put out a ‘live’ album which as soon as you hear it you will want to get out and see them, it’s that damned good. So if you love your Blues of all persuasions then make no mistake this is a band firing on all cylinders. What you get is ten tracks of gritty, greasy, dirty Blues, gloriously rich and spilling over with groove and soul. Castro has so much in his bag of tricks that one minute you’re thinking of Billy Gibbons or Duane Allman and the next he’s channeling B.B. King and Clapton.
Opening with the ‘good time’ Blues and Boogie of ‘Make it Back to Memphis’ you might initially think you’re in for a lighter ride, but digging in deeper you realise that the textures at play here and the variations are simply astounding. There’s Blues of all kinds in Castro’s ‘live’ melting pot and ‘Can’t Keep a Good Man Down’ fuels those expectations with a smokey, soulful Blues, not to mention a blistering solo.
We’re all funky and strutting for ‘Leaving Trunk’ a wonderful cover of the Sleepy John Estes original before the darker key-laden lament of ‘Lose Lose’ kicks in. ‘Calling San Fransisco’ that follows struts hard again Chicago-style, with swing and wail and those honky-tonk keys again making a heady mix; and there’s a wonderful drum beat to open ‘Shakin’ The Hard Times Loose’ which leads to sheer Rock and Roll heaven, heavy on the Chucky Berry, and fiery enough to blow off any remaining cobwebs!
After that burst of energy we take things right down for the gentle soulful lament of ‘Anytime Soon’ before the funky ‘She Wanted to Give It To Me’ shuffles into town and re-starts the weekend. ‘Two Hearts’ just adds to that positive vibe and runs away with it, and before you know it the album closes with a wonderfully funky and upbeat Buddy Miles cover ‘Them Changes’ that threatens to crack eight minutes.
I’ve always loved a ‘live’ Blues album and this one has it all, it’s made to be played loud and with friends, this is an album that takes the Blues to the party stuttering, gritty and downright soulful in places and simply shimmering and funky in others. Every song here delivers and if you’ve not come across Castro before you will be wanting more after this, that’s for sure. Blues album of the year surely?