August 2003 - Opening Axe Column

LIVE!
Tommy Castro Band
The Bottom Line: New York City

Tommy Castro blew into town and brought the heat from California to a cold New York night. The dynamic singer, songwriter, and soulful guitarist played a selection of future classics, such as "Right as Rain," and "Guilty of Love," along with cover tunes -from his latest disc, Gratitude-including Ray Charles' "Come Back Baby" and a rafter-shaking medley of John Lee Hooker's "Serves Me Right To Suffer/Canal St. Boogie" on which he damn near burned the strings of his Strat. Whether Castro was teasing the frets with delicate runs or ratcheting up the tension with furiously twisting riffs, his veteran band of Keith Crossan (tenor sax), Randy McDonald (bass), and Billy Lee Lewis (drums) provided the perfect grooves throughout the night. After encoring with his stomping "Lucky in Love," Castro left no doubt in the minds of the wildly cheering audience as to who is the new boss of rhythm and blues.

Dave Rubin

www.GuitarOneMag.com