#724 > Tommy Castro and The Painkillers - Closer to the Bone (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2025 – Alligator Records

Release Date : Feb. 7, 2025

By Phillip Smith; Jan. 11, 2025

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

There’s a deep sense of authentic blues with the latest album from Tommy Castro and The Painkillers’ Closer to the Bone, and I absolutely love it.  As Castro stated, "I have always wanted to do what I would call a real blues record, and I felt like the right time was now. There is nothing contemporary about this album. It’s a blues record the way they might have made blues records back in the day.” With Castro on guitars and vocals, he is joined by his band The Painkillers : Mike Emerson on keys, Randy McDonald on bass, and Bowen Brown on drums. His star-studded guestlist includes Christoffer “Kid” Andersen, Deanna Bogart, Billy Branch, Chris Cain, June Core, Rick Estrin, Scott Jensen, Jim Pugh, Mike Rinta, Jack Sanford, Sons of Soul Revivers, Endre Tarczy, and Lisa Leuschner Andersen.

Castro lures me quickly in with his masterful guitar-play on Jimmy Nolen’s “The Way You Do”. His twangy surf guitar is brilliantly paired with Rick Estrin on harmonica, and Kid Anderson’s infectious bassline. Johnny Nitro’s “One More Night” is fabulous to the core and filled with scorching guitar licks riding on top of an unescapable Texas blues groove. The tribute is so good, I was forced to acquaint myself with Nitro’s work. With guests Branch on harp, and Core on drums, Castro serves up a lively cocktail of Latin-infused blues with “Ain’t Worth the Heartache” for a fun, freewheeling original about moving on. Everything about “Freight Train (Let Me Ride)” is red hot. This cover originally from Ron Thompson and the Resisters features Pugh on piano and sounds amazing. Estrin appears again on a smokin’ recording of Eddie Taylor’s “Stroll Out West”. Castro sings this with a voice seemingly baptized in the Mississippi. This is what the blues is all about.

I think a lot of listeners will declare Closer to the Bone a favorite of 2025.  I sure have.

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For more information about Tommy Castro, visit the website @  

https://www.tommycastro.com/

For other PhillyCheeze reviews featuring Tommy Castro, follow this link: https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Tommy+Castro 

#393 : Christone "Kingfish" Ingram - Kingfish

2019 – Alligator Records

By Phillip Smith; May 25, 2019

I first heard of Christone “Kingfish” Ingram a couple of years ago, while watching a YouTube video.  I remember being amazed at his guitar prowess and being enamored by the sheer depth he plunged himself into the Blues.  Earlier this month, I was fortunate to have witnessed a live performance of this Clarksdale, Mississippi blues prodigy at Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee.  It was indeed a rare treat for this blues music loving soul. 

Ingram’s debut album, simply titled Kingfish, has finally been released, and I’m absolutely loving it.  Produced and co-written by two-time Grammy winner Tom Hambridge, the album features notable guest performances from Buddy Guy, Keb’ Mo’, and Billy Branch.  With Kingfish holding court on vocals and guitar, and Hambridge behind the drums, the band is comprised of guitarist Rob McNelley, bassist Tommy MacDonald, and Marty Sammon on B3 organ/piano.     

From the beginning, I was hooked by the dynamic groove of “Outside of This Town”.  Kingfish’s fearless delivery and robust vocals stand tall in the saddle.  Buddy Guy who has stated “Kingfish is the next explosion of blues.”, appears with Keb’ Mo’ on the delightful gem of a tune “Fresh Out”.  This track about being down and out has a cool vintage quality about it.  Sammon’s piano accompaniment is terrific.  “Before I’m Old” is another great song.  It is funky, soulful, and topped with more searing guitar.  Keb’ on this one too, as well as three other smoking tracks.  One of which is “If You Love Me”.  With Billy Branch on harp and Chris Black on drums, it’s a downright jamboree.          

One of my absolute favorites on the album is, “Been Here Before”.  Kingfish plays this amazingly-reflective song on acoustic guitar and sings it with heart.  I remember being wowed and captivated by his performance of this song at Beale Street Music Festival. It really stuck with me. 

Kingfish is one of those albums, every blues fan will want in their collection. It’s that damn good.   

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For more information about the artist, visit this website.. www.christonekingfishingram.com