Blues Legend Comes to San Diego
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 12:51
An Interview with Tommy Castro
by: Casey Pukl
There are few better blues guitar players in this country, if not the world, right now than Tommy Castro. With a voice that exudes passion and intensity, there’s no emotion that Tommy and his guitar can’t express. Listening to his music has me falling in love, laughing, and reliving every broken heart over and over again- but I can’t stay sad for too long. The music is just too good. It also helps that t
The man behind the music is one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of speaking with.
His introduction to music was learning to play the guitar at 10 years old after hearing his brother play. He fell in love with Eric Clapton, Elvin Bishop, Mike Bloomfield, B.B. King, and many more. By his late 20’s, he was playing in a variety of bands in the San Francisco Bay area, and in the late 1980’s he joined Warner Brothers’ artists The Dynatones. After touring and recording with them for two years, The Tommy Castro band was born in 1991, and he never looked back.
Having won numerous awards for his outstanding recordings and performances (including the highly coveted 2008 and 2010 Blues Music Awards for Entertainer of the Year), Tommy Castro has taken the blues world by storm. Yet even at his caliber, he still fights the battle to write new songs, keep his music interesting, and still yearns to improve and grow as an artist.
Being over 30 years into an extraordinary career, I asked Tommy how he keeps his music interesting and diverse.
TC: Well, right now I’m a little stuck in the writing process. That’s always the big challenge. I try to keep growing with the music; being able to bring something fresh, but not completely reinventing myself every time.
CP: I read that you had taken some guitar lessons prior to recording your most recent record. Tell me about that experience, and what it did for your writing and performing.
TC: I was really looking to expand my guitar skills. Anytime you can learn something new, it’s good for you no matter what you’re in. Also, looking at the music around me, guitar is really there again. There was a time where the guitar’s part just wasn’t as big a deal. There used to be big solos and stuff, and for a while it was just rhythm guitar in rock. But the guitar is back. It was a little bit of keeping things fresh, and mostly a desire to learn something new. Some of those guys out there are really good. I’ve got to keep up!
CP: I’ve heard you’re a big fan of co-writing. Do you tend to write with the same writers all the time, or switch it up?
TC: I’ve got a few that I love working with, but I’m always looking for new writing partners. That’s always a great thing.
CP: When I called, you mentioned that you were packing for the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. Tell me a little more about it.
TC: It’s some of the best acts in the world on one ship. Everyone does their show, and sometimes you’ll have special guests playing with them, which is really cool. Then at night, there’s a designated pro-jam that starts at midnight or twelve-thirty, something like that. It’s a neat set up.
CP: That must be a really inspiring setting, just jamming with the best of the best.
TC: Absolutely.
CP: What can our Anthology audience expect to hear at this upcoming performance?
TC: This show is going to be a pretty classic Castro Band show. We’ve got over 20 years of music to pull from, and we’re putting together a balanced show of old and new. Probably a little heavier on the newer stuff, but balanced. The band is in great form. We’re better than we’ve ever been, and it will be a great show. It’s just what we do. We’ve never played Anthology, so we’re really excited for this show. We’ve heard the room is amazing.
CP: And the food!
TC: Well that’s exciting! Anytime we can get a good meal on the road is a bonus. That doesn’t happen often. We’re just excited to come and play.
Be sure to take a listen to our Spotify playlists below; the first is a collection of some of my favorite Tommy Castro Band tunes, and the second is a collection of some of Tommy’s influences. Lastly, make sure you come out to see him this Saturday, October 22, 2011 at Anthology.
WHAT: Tommy Castro Band
WHEN: Saturday, October 22nd, 2011, 7:30pm & 9:30pm
TICKETS: $10-$39 Buy Tickets
MORE INFO: Artist Profile