In a profession spanning 4 many years, Tommy Castro has crafted a commendable catalog and constructed a religious following together with his soul-infused music, knowledgeable by the blues, R&B, pop, and rock and delivered with conviction. Beloved for his guitar work and vocal model, he has carved his personal area of interest.

Born and raised in San Jose, California, Castro was drawn to music as a toddler, chaperoned by his like-minded brother, Ray.

“He’s six years older than me, and had a bunch of rock-and-roll 45s,” Castro stated. “We shared a bed room, so I heard them so much. Once I was 10, he bought a guitar, and I believed it was the good factor on the planet. He fashioned a storage band in our neighborhood to play teen dances, and I’d comply with them round.”

The boys’ mom, a hard-working single dad or mum who raised 4 children, all the time supported no matter they pursued, together with Tommy’s ardour for music.

“Earlier than I had a guitar of my very own, each likelihood I bought, I’d decide up Ray’s Chet Atkins Nation Gentleman,” Castro recalled. “Being a Beatles man, he later bought a Rickenbacker and a Vox Tremendous Beatle amp.”

As a teen, he caught performances by main rock and soul acts that rolled by means of – Ike and Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, J. Geils Band, and Tower Of Energy, to call a number of, and all had an influence. Then, amidst the shape’s early-’80s revival, his tastes shifted to blues and the hip native joint, JJ’s Blues, the place he caught units by John Lee Hooker (whose final look on a recorded observe was for Castro’s 2001 album Responsible of Love), Albert King, Buddy Man, and Junior Wells.

In 1985, Castro turned lead singer and guitarist for an area R&B band known as NiteCry, then in ’92 fashioned the primary iteration of the Tommy Castro Band, releasing his first album in ’95. He signed with Alligator Information in 2009 and his first album for the label, Onerous Believer, received 4 Blues Music Awards together with Entertainer of the Yr (which he repeated in ’23).

In 2012, he assembled the four-piece Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, centered on a high-energy presentation; immediately, it consists of Mike Emerson on keyboards, longtime bassist Randy McDonald, and drummer Bowen Brown. Nearer To The Bone is his seventh album for Alligator, and his first “all blues” disc. Produced by Christoffer “Child” Andersen at his Greaseland Studios in San Jose, it has 10 covers of tunes written/carried out by his heroes, mentors, and associates mixing with three originals written or co-written by Castro, in addition to one by McDonald.

We talked with Castro whereas he was having fun with vacation downtime at house, prepping for a return to the highway in help of Nearer To The Bone, which streets on February 7.

Which of Ray’s data do you bear in mind being particularly into?
Regardless of the newest factor was. I bear in mind taking part in Magical Thriller Tour when it had simply come out. I used to be sufficiently old to concentrate to his 45s, which have been the hits of the time. I bear in mind getting my first 45 – “The Twist” by Chubby Checker.

Did he educate you to play a number of songs on guitar?
Yeah, he confirmed me songs by The Animals, Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and Van Morrison’s band, Them. Finally, although, I began shopping for my very own albums and so they have been extra blues – Michael Bloomfield, Cream, and stuff like that.

Did you be taught to play songs from them?
I did, once I was 14, I heard “I’m Coming Dwelling” by Ten Years After, on the brand new Woodstock album, and it blew my thoughts. There was one thing about that that I couldn’t get sufficient of; I stored taking part in it time and again, decided to be taught the entire thing. Being a child who by no means had classes or any actual academics, it took a very long time, however I pieced it collectively one hook at time. As soon as I might play it, I turned well-known in my neighborhood (laughs).

Do you bear in mind first getting along with others to play?
Yeah, I had a pal who performed bass and one other who performed guitar, and we’d get collectively at any person’s home and take heed to data and attempt to determine stuff out. Finally, a pair drummers got here round and we put a band collectively. We’d play fundamental stuff like “Mr. Fantasy” for a half an hour (laughs), taking solos and jamming. We’d smoke just a little weed and have a beer and simply jam, and ultimately, we knew a batch of songs. That was loads of enjoyable.

Did something come of it?
Probably not. I didn’t get critical about taking part in music till a blues membership opened in San Jose and so they had jam periods on Sundays. I’d play no matter I had up my sleeve, a shuffle or a sluggish tune. After some time, it turned a scene and I bought to know the opposite musicians. A few of them would hand tapes to me and say, “I like what you’re doing, however it is best to actually be listening to this.” That turned me on to a bunch of nice data.

I wound up in NiteCry as a lead singer/second guitar participant; René Solis (d. 2010) was the lead participant.

Did that make you think about taking part in as a profession?
Effectively, within the early ’80s, I discovered that there was no job that I preferred or needed aside from taking part in music; it was what I seemed ahead to each week, and all the pieces else simply appeared in the way in which. I had an extended speak with myself about life (laughs) and determined to focus my vitality on it. I knew I’d have to maneuver to San Francisco, which had a greater scene, so I moved and began getting gigs as a facet man. There have been loads of blues occurring in San Francisco on the time; Boz Scaggs opened his membership, Slim’s, in ’88, and it specialised in blues and roots music. On the radio you have been listening to Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and all these blues gigs have been obtainable. I joined the Dynatones, which was a touring band and my first skilled gig, however I used to be the guitar participant and never the singer. After they have been off the highway, I’d rent Randy to play bass and we’d do trio gigs with one of many drummers round city. On Monday nights, I’d play with my pal Johnny Nitro and his band. I stayed with the Dynatones for a pair years earlier than beginning my very own band as a result of I needed to be the singer and the guitar participant.

What was your setup on the time?
I used to be taking part in a three-bolt ’70s Strat and a ’65 Tremendous Reverb. I used that till one evening when Nitro got here to a gig with a black Strat; he stored fairly a number of guitars in pawn outlets as a result of he thought they have been safer there than in his house – he’d simply maintain the tickets and get one out when he wanted to play it or promote it. He was going to promote the black one, however I after I attempted it, I stated, “Please promote it to me…” I didn’t have the cash, so I informed him he’d must let me purchase it on credit score (laughs).

What did you want about it?
It felt nice in my palms, and it had the tone I used to be making an attempt to get out of the cream Strat. It had a barely darker sound from the neck pickup.

What’s its neck form?
A bit thicker, however I actually didn’t discover that. I simply preferred the way in which it felt and sounded, and it was cool as a result of it had loads of put on.

Which you’ve added to…
Yeah, properly, little did I do know that I’d play that guitar (see this month’s “Classics” characteristic) on my first 10 albums, normally by means of the Tremendous with no pedals or something. My secret was working the Quantity knob between 8 and 10, Treble within the center as much as about 8, and the Bass on 4. That was a nice sound and was my sound for a very long time.

What most helped you progress as a guitarist?
Enjoying so much, as a result of I’d must be taught songs for no matter type of gig. That all the time teaches you a large number. I took only a few formal classes – a number of right here and there – however they didn’t work for me as a result of they have been an excessive amount of like math. So, most of what I discovered was from listening to data and associates. Once I determined to take a shot at taking part in for a residing, I practiced so much, largely listening to data and creating songs.

You’ve talked about your insecurity onstage at first.
Yeah, earlier than I joined the Dynatones, I’d stand in a single spot and stare at my footwear (laughs). I used to be centered on taking part in.

What modified?
Generally at a jam, no one would step as much as sing. So I discovered a number of songs so I might. Additionally, within the Dynatones, the chief informed me, “While you take a solo, I would like you to go proper as much as the entrance of the stage and play proper on the individuals! Look out and smile.”

I’d by no means considered that, however to today, I do precisely that. I nonetheless get nervous, particularly at huge exhibits, however I’ve discovered to take care of it. Again then, I simply actually needed to play music and no matter I needed to do, even when I used to be nervous, scared, uncomfortable, I knew it was a part of the deal.

You additionally pleasure your self on making every new report sound not like certainly one of your earlier albums.
Sure, that’s a dedication I’ve made to myself and my followers, and it’s difficult. The brand new report is one other instance, though it’s falling again to conventional blues I’ve performed usually over time.

It should assist that your influences differ so broadly.
Rising up within the Bay Space, we heard so much about bands like Tower of Energy and Sly Stone. Within the blues, my influences are loads of the usuals – B.B. King, Freddie King, Albert King, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Ray Charles – however I prefer to suppose my data are as unique as will be. The stuff I listened to as I used to be looking for my voice and create my very own sound was a mix of blues, roots, rock and roll, soul, and a little bit of funk.

I do really feel like I’ve a sound, and the rationale the brand new report is completely different is I’m digging into the blues with out making an attempt to be modern in any respect.

How did you select songs?
Oh, that was enjoyable! I needed to seek out some that weren’t so apparent. I had a listing, and I went to [Alligator Records founder] Bruce Iglauer, who’s a blues encyclopedia, and one other pal, Dick Shurman, who’s a blues historian and produced data with Delmark. They’re two guys who know extra concerning the deep catalog of blues music than anyone else I do know personally.

They’re straight blues, city blues, a country-blues and even one by Brownie McGhee.
Yeah, to be sincere, I didn’t know “Gap In The Wall” was Brownie McGhee’s tune. I bought it from Magic Slim, a Chicago man who, like loads of Chicago guys, got here from Mississippi, the place he and his brothers sang within the church. He moved to Chicago and had a profession as a guitar participant, recorded for Blind Pig, and bought to tour the world. He was essentially the most real-deal blues man I ever met. He’s not an enormous identify like B.B. King or Buddy Man, and I’m not taking something away from them. However not all people is aware of who guys like Magic Slim are, and that’s another excuse I did that tune. There’s one million blues songs on the market that everyone is aware of by coronary heart, and there are artists all people is aware of. I used to be looking for some that I had a private connection to, just like the tune by Nitro (“One Extra Night time”), and others by my associates Chris Cain (“Woke Up And Smelled The Espresso”), Ron Thompson (“Freight Practice (Let Me Journey)”), and Mike Duke.

How did you determine on Mike’s “Preserve Your Canine Inside”?
Mike and I speak so much and he’s all the time taking part in his songs for me. I used to be completely happy to choose certainly one of his – the blusiest one he had! As issues got here collectively, I used to be anticipating Bruce Iglauer to say, “I don’t suppose that’s going to suit,” however he beloved it! Once more, the secret’s songs by guys you don’t normally hear and the connection for me, just like the Chris Cain tune. When Chris’ first album got here out, I used to be like, “Man, this can be a man from my neighborhood, making data and touring Europe.” I beloved his first album, Late Night time Metropolis Blues, and the thought of the tune; my mom used to inform me, “Get up and scent the espresso!”

Although I’ll by no means play guitar like Chris, it was inspiring {that a} man from my hometown might do it for a residing, which made me suppose, “I may need a shot.”

How did the songs come collectively within the studio?
Effectively, half of them are precisely as they occurred after we tracked the entire band taking part in collectively, save for an edit or two. Numerous the solos got here proper off the monitoring periods – and a few shocked me! Just like the Johnny “Guitar” Watson tune “She Strikes Me,” which I performed with my fingers, which isn’t one thing I do. It captures the vibe and really feel of what Johnny would do.

“I Can’t Catch a Break,” has a solo that I didn’t must re-think, re-cut, or repair. It simply got here out. Once I hear it, once more, there issues I don’t usually do.

Had you rehearsed it fairly a bit?
By no means, really. I initially wrote it with a unique groove, however Child and I have been considering it sounded an excessive amount of like “Ain’t Well worth the Heartache.” So after we have been doing vocal overdubs, we got here up with a brand new association. Mike, Randy, and Bowen had gone house to Northern California by then, so we known as drummer June Core, who performs with Charlie Musselwhite and occurs to dwell in my neighborhood. We labored on the association and performed it in sooner or later, then later had the horns are available in. The guitar solo got here to me within the second. I really like when that occurs.

There are songs the place I went again and gave extra thought to the solos – “Woke Up And Smelled The Espresso” was one.

Which guitar did you utilize for the slide components on the tune that Randy introduced, “In all places I Go”?
I used a Silvertone at Child’s.

Did Randy foyer to get it on the report, or have been you into it?
We weren’t positive if Bruce and the Alligator of us have been going to be okay with having one other member of the band sing, as a result of that isn’t one thing they normally do, however they acknowledged that the tune was actually good and that Randy’s been with me for all these years. It’s tune, and we bought efficiency.

Being in Child’s studio, it is sensible you took benefit to run with a few of his guitars.
Yeah, I additionally used his ES-330 on a “She Strikes Me” to get that sound. It labored nice.

Which amps can we hear you play most on the album?
Chopping at Child’s, more often than not he had me taking part in right into a tweed Harvard or Princeton or a Champ – one thing like that. At house, I had a silverface Princeton that I used to chop some stuff, and my Victory V4 The Duchess pedalboard amp, which has 4 tubes within the preamp and is wonderful. I used that to chop the solos on “Woke Up…” and couldn’t imagine how good it sounds. I tweaked it till I bought a tone that was real looking, which was simpler than messing with a bunch of amps. I did three songs with it.

On the finish of “The Manner You Do,” you quote Clapton from “All Your Love” on the Bluesbreakers report.
Yeah, however that’s Otis Rush (laughs). I all the time beloved that lick. If I play that tune dwell, I play the entire thing in the course of my solo. There was a time if you’d hear “All Your Love” at each blues present, however you don’t hear it a lot anymore.

Which guitars and amps are happening the highway with you?
I’ll have the black Strat and a backup or two, and I’m utilizing The Duchess, which weighs about 4 kilos. Its direct out has a speaker simulator and you’ll obtain any audio system you need. It’s wonderful and sounds extra constant in each room, so it’s very handy. I do like having a speaker onstage, so I’m utilizing it to drive one in a 1×12 combo.

The brand new album is a full-circle story, given the tune choice and the return of the black Strat.
Numerous followers have seen, and all people’s having fun with it – however largely me (laughs)!

You’re going again on tour. The place’s your head at lately?
I’m fortunate to be right here and get to do that. I didn’t count on I used to be going to have gigs for 35 years and make a residing and lift children and purchase homes and all of these items simply by taking part in blues guitar. I stay in a state of gratitude about the entire thing. I work exhausting as a result of I need to be worthy of this present that’s been laid on me by the universe.

This text initially appeared in VG’s February 2025 subject. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.