Show of Soul
April 24, 2006

Recorded at the Sierra Nevada Brewery "Big Room" in Chico, California, the new Tommy Castro Band DVD possesses the vibrant, vivacious playing and charm that is Tommy Castro's trademark.

Castro's band is Randy McDonald (bass, background vocals), Keith Crossan (sax, background vocals), and Chris Sandoval (drums). Here Castro also includes several special guests - Jimmy Pugh on keys, Blind Pig Recording Artist Reneé Austin on background vocals, Tom Poole on trumpet, and Grammy winner Kevin Bowe on guitar. Fortunately, the DVD was recorded prior to Austin's illness, which has left her without her singing voice; a condition we all pray is not permanent.

Castro, his band, and the special guests all make this DVD a special treat for all Blues lovers, but especially for Castro fans. Laying down solidly rockin' tracks, Castro chose eleven originals (one from bassist Randy McDonald) for the live DVD. Crossan's sax introduces and dominates the opening number, "You Only Go Around Once." Typical of the Blues theme that life is short and you'd better enjoy it while you can, round guitar tones join the sax in traditional Chicago style. A standing room-only crowd gets into the groove right away, dancing to the music.

"The Holdin' On" keeps a steady, stretched beat with an almost 1950s flavor, until the end on a slightly sped-up vamp. "Let's Give Love A Try" features Kevin Bowe and Reneé Austin. Castro's raspy vocals match well with Austin's deep resonations, and the bass player is spotlighted a bit here, showing off his bottom-line abilities.

"Anytime Soon" is a mellow, relaxing song about someday finding peace of mind. The song is spiced by sugary scales from both Crossan's sax and Tom Poole's trumpet. The two instruments provide a duet in an understanding verse about the difficulties of life. This song is a feature of the DVD.

"What You Gonna' Do Now?" picks up the pace and gets the audience hopping again. "Just Like Me" is a sax-driven, energy-filled love song that would make great radio airplay. The drum rolls carry it across the bridge nicely and the sax stands in for vocals at the finish. This is a highlight of the recording.

"The Next Right Thing" gets a bit funky and then Castro introduces and discusses the band members with the audience. "Texas Flower" is a yodeling, howling Rock 'n' Roll song about a girl from Texas who loves to roam. Bassist McDonald sings his own original and moves around the stage to lock it in the pocket with the other musicians. He entertains the audience by looking at them upside down while positioned in a near back bend. This song could have jumped right out of the 1950s and it's a perfect selection for the Tommy Castro Band's style.

"Take Me Off The Road" is harder and tougher than the rest of the tunes on the DVD. Whining guitar parts and a heavy bass line are reminiscent of Southern Rock as is the use of chords similar to those on ZZ Top's "Three Lock Box" as part of the foundation of the piece. Castro extends the length of the piece by taking advantage of the steady beat to jam and explore his fretboard. The song ends in a frenzy with all the players jamming like crazy. The keyboard creates some Jazz on the reverbed "No One Left To Lie To," and the beat and guitar on "Wake Up Call" forge a World Music feel.

Castro's music has obvious oldies influences, but his overall approach to playing and his material are very up-to-date. As a Blues musician, he keeps the flame burning by carving out his own niche. Whole Lotta' Soul is great party music that is easy to dance to on both the fast and the slow songs. He and his band have mucho presence, and it's easy to enjoy Castro's performance and band direction.

"Extras" on the DVD are interviews with Castro, Castro's band, "Blind Pig Fan Favorites," and "Internet Links." The 87-minute recording also offers audio options for Dolby digital stereo and 5.1 surround sound.

Lisa Palmeno is a contributing editor at BluesWax