TOMMY CASTRO rescheduled to Jun. 25 at The Coach House; photo Bob By Request
Tommy Castro, a regular at The Coach House, had to reschedule his recent show due to the COVID-19 coronavirus to Jun 25. We thought it would be fun to re-run an interview he did back in 2014 when the Devil You Know Album came out. Read on:
“If you go to an online music site and you just play the title track it kind of tells the story of where this record is going to go. Although it does go a lot of places!” Castro laughed.
A couple years ago Castro began to perform as Tommy Castro and the Painkillers, which is a four-piece band and without a horn section.
“I was looking for a more guitar-driven, a little more rockin’, edgier, leaner sound,” Castro explained.
“The whole idea behind the album, ‘The Devil You Know’, was this new direction of mine. I basically like to keep things fresh, try new things, combining old influences and moving forward.
Tommy Castro; photo Jayson Carpenter
“A lot of this music reminds me of when I was a kid and just learning to play. Playing in garages with my friends and just having fun. This new music reminds me of that feeling.”
Fans, musicians, peers and anyone who is familiar with Tommy Castro over the years is responding to the new music favorably.
“There’s a different enthusiasm that I’m hearing from different people that are commenting on the album,” Castro said.
“So it feels real good to be at this stage of my career and still be able to do something that really matters. We’re creating new art with new energy and it’s real. It feels good!”
Throughout the course of his career, Castro has worked with a multitude of artists including the blues revue he entertains on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise.
“With my musical career and history of all the things that are probably more memorable would of course be playing with BB King, Buddy Guy, and John Lee Hooker,” Castro said.
“And all of the people that guested on my album are all amazing musicians and I’m lucky to be able to collaborate and perform with them.”
Also appearing at The Coach House will be r&b, soul legend Johnnie Taylors’ daughter, Tasha Taylor. “We used to go out and sing with him and perform with him until he died and now she’s out on her own,” Castro said.
“She did a song with me on the album along with many other special guests like Joe Bonamassa, Tab Benoit, and Marcia Ball.”
Finding your own voice or what sets you apart is essential for new musicians at the beginning of their career.
“Find out what it is about you that’s different than everybody else and expand on it, use it and work hard. I think a lot of young people come in to the business thinking that it’s not work. They think it’s going to be such a great thing to do because it won’t be like work at all. But it is very much like work at times if you do it right. So that’s the bad news,” Castro heartily laughed.
“You put this energy into something that you care about it’s different than just working hard. It’s working hard to a purpose.
“I think that’s why I still have a career because I’ve worked very hard at my business.”