Luck of the Irish
March 15, 2007

by Beth Peerless

One of our favored blues-based artists out of San Francisco, Tommy Castro, is back at his Santa Cruz hangout, Moe's Alley, this Friday with his great band to support his latest recording effort, "Painkiller."

Castro has grown exponentially from the early 1990s when his band, formed in 1991, received the prestigious Bay Area Music Award for "Club Band of the Year" two years in a row.

With his cataclysmic live shows a thing of Bay Area legend, he went on to take the world by storm.

He has since garnered high-profile gigs such as the opening act for two years (2001-02) on B.B. King's tours that also featured Buddy Guy.

Castro's group was also cast as house band for NBC's "Comedy Showcase," which followed "Saturday Night Live" for three seasons.

Last year S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom declared "Tommy Castro Day" in recognition of his unselfish efforts in support of various community projects and for his role as unofficial musical ambassador for the city.

Castro's latest recording has his trademark brand of blues, rock and soul represented in new and interesting songs, as well as a guest appearance by California blues/rock comrade in arms, Coco Montoya.

Online subscriber blues E-zine readers, more than 100,000 strong, recently voted Castro "Artist of the Year."

No longer can we shrug off the Tommy Castro Band as just another local phenom. It's time to go out and have a great time listening to the world-renowned band in one of its favorite venues.

This CD release party for "Painkiller" at Moe's Alley is for those 21+. Tickets for the 9:30 p.m. show are $18 advance, $20 door.