It’s fair to say that Tommy Castro has been round the block a few times and he’s all the better for it. A late bloomer in terms of recorded output, the last 15 years or so has seen him release some fine albums including this year’s great ‘Stompin Ground’ with some fine horns supplementing the traditional blues base.
Tonight Tommy is supported by the Painkillers, Bowen Brown on drums, Randy McDonald on bass and the excellent Mike Emerson on keys who provides a superb rounded sound supporting the pounding rhythm section.
We have tracks from the new album, some oldies and some great blues covers and Tommy gets into his stride right from the off on his bespoke Delaney ‘Castrocaster’ guitar. An hour in the band welcome their ‘driver’ on stage who just happens to be a certain Aynsley Lister. He remains on stage for the rest of the set and the dual axe attack and interplay is superb with the bonus of Lister taking lead vocals on a couple of numbers too.
The band are all on top form and clearly have a good time. A special mention to one guy in the audience whose enthusiasm was contagious and should hire himself out as a one man crowd on his own.
It’s a breathless nearly two hour set and these Painkillers are the perfect antidote to the cold outside.
Till the next time, keep on blues rockin y’all