Tommy Castro

"Painkiller"; Blind Pig

3 ½ out of 4 stars

The way he mixes blues, soul and rock-and-roll, it's obvious that Tommy Castro worships at the Church of St. Delbert. (Can you think of a more worthy idol?) With 2005's "Soul Shaker," however, the Bay Area singer-guitarist really came into his own, and he continues in peak form with "Painkiller."

Roaring roadhouse romps like "I Roll When I Rock" and "A Good Fool Is Hard to Find" -- Castro trades incendiary licks with Coco Montoya on the latter -- alternate with the funky New Orleans flavor of "Goin' Down South" and the silky, Sam Cooke grooving of "Big Sister's Radio." Castro's McClinton-like rasp, meanwhile, lends an extra touch of soul to more downbeat numbers like "Err on the Side of Love" and "Lonesome and Then Some." The latter segues into the final cut, "It Ain't Easy Being Me," a tongue-in-cheek lament with a nice light touch that, fittingly, ends this infectious set on a bright note.

- RIYL: Delbert McClinton; Curtis Salgado; Stevie Ray Vaughan

- Show info: Tommy Castro will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 9 at the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City. Details: 883-1976.

-- Nick Cristiano, Philadelphia Inquirer