The Turning Point Café, Piermont, NY
May 31, 2002

Tommy Castro Band
Guilty of Love
33rd Street Records
January 2002

Although the tiny but venerable Turning Point Café has seen its share of great acts, I can't imagine that many have elicited any more excitement and raw energy from an audience or a band than this group did on this warm and muggy Friday night. Playing two very solid sets, this polished and soulful performer and his band touched the emotions of every person in the room with skillful musicianship, great vocals and more charisma than anyone has a right to possess.

Playing tracks from their new CD, Guilty of Love, featuring a cameo performance by John Lee Hooker, reportedly his last recorded performance, The Tommy Castro Band with Castro on lead guitar and vocals, Randy McDonald on bass guitar, Keith Crossan, tenor sax, and Billy Lee Lewis on drums, started off the first show with a nice mix of soul and blues. One was struck by the tightness of the band and the quality of Castro's controlled guitar work; no pyrotechnics here, just honest and lyrical playing by someone who has a great deal of respect for the music. You get the sizzle AND the steak with this group who totally warmed the hearts of the audience with their diverse mix of rock, soul, blues and R & B, all served up with Castro's strong vocals, a great supporting cast, and a charm that's as much a part of the live performance as the music. A blend of covers and original work gave a nice feel for TCB's depth, good taste and genuine affection for the work, each other, and the audience. Nice stuff.

And then there was the second show. WOW. Now usually the second show pretty much repeats the first with some other stuff thrown in depending on the crowd and how good the band is feeling, right? Well there was so much good feeling in this room that night, that at one point, in a good-humored plea from Castro to the crowd to let the band off the stage, he suggested that we all just rent a bus and come with them to Cambridge, their next gig. We were ready. In a generous bow to the NY Blues & Jazz Society presence at the first show, he announced that he'd better play some different music now and he knocked us out with blues and rock work that just oozed sensuality, lyricism, and power. The crowd was screaming, singing along, standing on the tables, exchanging in a good-natured banter with Castro, and yelling for more. And more they got. Even the exhausted band gave up trying to end the show. After playing, "Just a Man," Castro teased the audience one more time by saying it was a band rule never to end a set with a slow song. Yes! Ladies, he's even got dimples.

This is a performer who could bridge the gap between mainstream and blues; a complete package who can pull off rock, blues, soul and R&B with style and integrity. He can write the music, cover it with respect and style, croon AND wail, and make women think the thoughts that men want to know about. He appeals to old and young alike, and last but not least, these are a bunch of really nice guys who exude such a sheer joy of performing that when we had an opportunity to spend some time talking with them we mostly just tried to convince them to come back.

And when they do, do not miss it. You won't be sorry.

By Janice S. Salomon
Photo Credit: Joan Mallotides