Tuesday, December 03, 2024

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers to release 'Closer to the Bone' on February 7, 2025

Blues-rock great Tommy Castro is set to release his next album in early February 2025. Get all the details below and check out the great new track "Woke Up and Smelled the Coffee"...Robert Kinsler 


TOMMY CASTRO & THE PAINKILLERS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM,
CLOSER TO THE BONE, ON FEBRUARY 7, 2025


CLOSER TO THE BONE Is The Most Straight-Ahead, Raw Blues Album Of Castro's Four-Decade Career. "This Is Me At My Most Authentic," Castro Says.

Video For Advance Single, Woke Up And Smelled The Coffee, Premieres Today

“A great artist...impassioned vocals and pure inventiveness in his stellar guitar solos…He makes playing rough feel easy.”
 --Blues Music Magazine
 
“With a sterling reputation, guitarist and vocalist Tommy Castro is one of the foremost practitioners of electric blues. Searing delivery…rousing and teeming with emotion. [He is] a sheer, soaring tour-de-force.”
--Living Blues
 
“Castro plays gritty, string-bending blues like a runaway train...a glorious blend that rocks the soul and lifts the spirits.”
--No Depression
 
"Soaring vocals and swirling leads…showcasing Castro's testifying, confessional vocals [and] resonant emotional power as a singer.”
--AllMusic
On Friday, February 7, 2025, Alligator Records will release Closer To The Bone, the new album from award-winning, California-based blues and rock sensation Tommy Castro. Castro is the guitar slinging, soul-singing leader of the telepathically tight and wildly raucous Tommy Castro & The PainkillersWith Closer To The Bone, Castro -- the four-time Blues Music Award-winner for the B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year -- delivers what he calls, "a record I've always wanted to make." Closer To The Bone is the most unvarnished, straight-ahead blues release of Castro’s career, one that bristles with every ounce of his dynamic energy and raw emotion.

On Closer To The Bone (Castro’s 8th Alligator release), Castro and his Painkillers – bassist Randy McDonald, keyboardist Mike Emerson and drummer Bowen Brown – mix new Castro originals (Ain’t Worth The Heartache, Can’t Catch A Break, Crazy Woman Blues) with songs originally performed by many of Castro’s friends and heroes. Artists and their songs include Johnny Nitro (One More Night, on which Castro plays his treasured 1966 black Fender Stratocaster, a guitar once owned by Nitro himself), Magic Slim (Hole In The Wall), Ron Thompson (Freight Train) and Mike Duke (Keep Your Dog Inside). Castro additionally chose obscure songs by Wynonie Harris (Bloodshot Eyes), Eddie Taylor (Stroll Out West), Jimmy Nolen (The Way You Do) and Johnny “Guitar” Watson (She Moves Me). According to Castro, “These are not the obvious artists people generally cover, and that was most definitely on purpose.”

Of the album's first single, Woke Up And Smelled The Coffee (a song written by Castro's Alligator label-mate Chris Cain), Castro says, "I always liked the song. Since it's been almost 40 years since he recorded it, I thought I would do my own version. People cover B.B. King and Buddy Guy, why not Chris Cain? He’s as relevant an artist as anyone who ever played the blues."

A new video of Woke Up And Smelled The Coffee premieres today. Watch it below:
Tommy Castro -- Woke Up And Smelled The Coffee
From Full Album Closer To The Bone, Out on February 7, 2025

Castro has released 17 previous albums over the course of his four-decade career as a professional touring musician. Each record has its own individual sound and style, ranging from horn-fueled R&B to piping hot blues and soul to fiery, stripped-down rock ‘n’ roll. With Closer To The Bone, Castro has returned to his roots, delivering what he calls “a real blues record, the way they would have made them back in the day.”

Closer To The Bone was produced by master guitarist and studio wizard Christoffer “Kid” Andersen (producer of over 100 albums), at his now-famous Greaseland Studio in San Jose, California. On song after song, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers deliver one raw, inspired performance after another. Says Castro, “Here, I’m not the contemporary guy, not the rock guy, not the soul guy. This is the deeper blues side of me. I know, with these songs, I am at my most authentic.”

Photo by: Dragan Tasic

Larkin Poe share new song about slowing down and being present; new album out Jan 24

Check out the newly-released advance single / music video for Larkin's Poe's latest single "Little Bit." The bewitching song is off the duo's forthcoming album Bloom coming in January 2025...Robert Kinsler




 

GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING SISTER DUO

HERALD EAGERLY AWAITED NEW ALBUM WITH SINGLE ABOUT

PASSIONATE PRESENCE AND MINDFULNESS  – LISTEN

 

OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERES TODAY – WATCH

 

EPIC WORLD TOUR BEGINS APRIL 8, 2025 IN ST. LOUIS

 

HIGH-PROFILE COLLABORATIONS WITH

ELVIS COSTELLO, T-BONE BURNETT, AND RINGO STARR

INCLUDE RECENT LIVE PERFORMANCES

WITH THE COWARD BROTHERS (COSTELLO AND BURNETT) ON

CBS’ LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT AND CBS SATURDAY MORNING

 

BLOOM ARRIVES VIA TRICKI-WOO RECORDS ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2025

 

PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE NOW


Larkin Poe – the GRAMMY® Award-winning duo of Georgia-bred, Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell – have shared their latest single, “Little Bit,” available now via their own Tricki-Woo Records. An official music video premieres today on YouTube. The song, in which Rebecca passionately sings about being present, mindful and in the moment,  heralds Larkin Poe’s eagerly awaited new album, Bloom, arriving Friday, January 24, 2025. Pre-orders are available now.

 

“From the word go, it feels like we’ve been tempted to live life leaning forward,” says Rebecca Lovell. “As touring musicians, we have cultivated a pedal-to-the-metal, high-octane culture, but the shine has slowly worn off that penny. ‘Little Bit’ is all about slowing down and savoring the precious little details, as lyrics say: ‘more ain’t always more than a little bit.’”

 

LISTEN TO “LITTLE BIT”

WATCH “LITTLE BIT” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

 

PRE-ORDER BLOOM

 

Bloom – which follows 2023’s GRAMMY® Award-winning Blood Harmony – was first unveiled this fall following Larkin Poe’s “Duo/Group of the Year” triumph at the 2024 Americana Honors & Awards. The album includes such recently released singles as the contemplative opening track, “Mockingbird,” the lush, blues-soaked “If God Is A Woman,” and the genre-bending “Bluephoria,” all accompanied by official music videos streaming now on YouTube.


LISTEN TO “MOCKINGBIRD”

WATCH “MOCKINGBIRD” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO


LISTEN TO “IF GOD IS A WOMAN”

WATCH “IF GOD IS A WOMAN” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO


LISTEN TO “BLUEPHORIA”

WATCH “BLUEPHORIA” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO


Presented by the Americana Music Association at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, Larkin Poe’s prestigious “Duo/Group of the Year” victory marked the latest achievement in what is proving a landmark 2024 for the dynamic sister duo, beginning earlier this year with their first career GRAMMY® Award, winning “Best Contemporary Blues Album” for 2023’s critically acclaimed sixth studio album, Blood HarmonyBloom now sees Larkin Poe venturing further along on their evolving musical journey with a collection of songs that resonate with introspection, authenticity, and a profound connection to their roots in American music.

 

Produced and largely co-written by Megan, Rebecca, and Tyler Bryant, the album marks a significant evolution for Larkin Poe, reflecting a synergy that extends beyond mere musical partnership. Already hailed for the sincerity of their songcraft, the Lovell sisters now place an even greater spotlight on their gift for storytelling, delving deep into personal narratives with universal themes of self-acceptance and individuality against a backdrop of contemporary blues and rock influences. With their distinctive blend of poetic lyricism, masterful instrumentation, and soulful harmonies, songs like “Little Bit” and the gritty punk-energized anthem “Pearls” affirm their willingness to confront current realities while staying true to their musical heritage. A triumphant celebration of the authentic self, Bloom fully cements Larkin Poe’s status as modern torchbearers of American roots music, inviting their ever-growing fan following to flourish and thrive alongside them.

 

“Bloom” is about finding oneself amidst the noise of the world,” says Rebecca, “about wholeheartedly embracing the flaws and idiosyncrasies that make us real. In one way or another, pretty much all of the songs on this album are about finding yourself, knowing yourself, and separating the truth of who you are from societal expectations.”

 

In addition, Larkin Poe have united with a pair of indisputable British rock legends for a series of remarkable collaborations. First, the duo are featured on Elvis Costello’s new King Of America & Other Realms box set, performing a new version of his “That’s Not The Part Of Him You’re Leaving” recorded earlier this year. Larkin Poe recently backed The Coward Brothers (Costello and T-Bone Burnett) for a special performance of the song, “Always” on CBS’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert. They also backed The Coward Brothers on CBS Saturday Morning. Larkin Poe will also team with the one and only Ringo Starr on his first album in six years, Look Up, joining Billy Strings for a featured appearance on the new T-Bone Burnett composition, “Rosetta.” Look Up arrives everywhere on Friday, January 10, 2025.  

 

WATCH LARKIN POE W/ THE COWARD BROTHERS

(ELVIS COSTELLO AND T-BONE BURNETT) PERFORM “ALWAYS”

ON LIVE ON LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT


Long praised as one of hardest touring acts on the road today, Larkin Poe will celebrate Bloom with an epic world tour beginning April 8, 2025, at St. Louis, MO’s The Hawthorn and then traveling North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom through November. Highlights include headline dates at such historic venues as Denver, CO’s Ogden Theatre (April 11), Vancouver, BC’s Commodore Ballroom (April 19), Los Angeles, CA’s The Fonda Theatre (April 23), San Francisco, CA’s The Fillmore (April 25), Washington, DC’s 9:30 Club (May 9), New York, NY’s Irving Plaza (May 10), Minneapolis, MN’s First Avenue (May 16), and Nashville, TN’s Ryman Auditorium (May 29). Special guests for North America include Parker Milsap (April 8-27) and Amythyst Kiah (May 8-17). In addition, top-billed festival performances in 2025 include Floyd, VA’s FloydFest (July 23-27), and Las Vegas, NV’s Big Blues Bender (September 4-7). For complete details and ticket information, please visit www.larkinpoe.com/tour.

Photo Credit: Robby Klein

# # #


LARKIN POE – TOUR 2025


APRIL 2025

8 – St. Louis, MO – The Hawthorn *

10 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman *

11 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre *

12 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot *

15 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall *

17 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox *

18 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom *

19 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom *

23 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre *

25 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore *

27 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre *

 

MAY 2025

8 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer ^

9 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club ^

10 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza ^

12 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur ^

14 – Toronto, ONT – The Concert Hall ^

16 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue ^

17 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre ^

29 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

30 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern

 

JUNE 2025

1 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel

 

JULY 2025

23-27 – Floyd, VA – FloydFest †

 

SEPTEMBER 2025

4-7 – Las Vegas, NV – Big Blues Bender †

 

OCTOBER 2025

17 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy

18 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy

19 – Bristol, UK – Bristol Beacon

21 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo

22 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute

24 – Paris, France – Salle Pleyel

25 – Tilburg, Netherlands – 013 Poppodium

26 – Cologne, Germany – E-Werk

28 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene

29 – Stockholm, Sweden – Circus

30 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Falkoner Center

 

NOVEMBER 2025

1 – Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom

2 – Warsaw, Poland – Klub Stodola

4 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer

5 – Munich, Germany – Tonhalle

8 – Geneva, Switzerland – Salle De L’Alhambra

9 – Nimes, France – La Paloma

12 – Lisbon, Portugal – Coliseu Dos Recreios

14 – Madrid, Spain – Sala Riviera

15 – Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz 1

16 – Bordeaux, France – Le Rocher de Palmer

18 – Clermont-Ferrand, France – Le Cooperative de Mai

19 – La Rochelle, France – La Sirene

21 – Antwerp, Belgium – De Roma

 

* w/ Special Guest Parker Millsap

^ w/ Special Guest Amythyst Kiah

† Festival Appearance


# # #


LARKIN POE

BLOOM

(Tricki-Woo Records)

Release Date: Friday, January 24, 2025


Tracklist:

1. Mockingbird

2. Easy Love Part 1

3. Little Bit

4. Bluephoria

5. Easy Love Part 2

6. Nowhere Fast

7. If God Is A Woman

8. Pearls

9. Fool Outta Me

10. You Are The River

11. Bloom Again


CONNECT WITH LARKIN POE

OFFICIAL | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

Sunday, December 01, 2024

'Beatles '64' revisits the magic of Beatles first visit to the U.S.


"Beatles '64" is now available on Disney+ / Photo credit: Apple Corps, Ltd.

More than 60 years after they first arrived in America, the impact and influence of the Beatles continues to loom large on seemingly every aspect of popular culture not only in the U.S. but around the globe. The marvelous new 107-minute documentary "Beatles '64" that premiered on Disney+ on Nov. 29 and is available to stream now sheds light on how John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr worked their magic with a sound, style and palpable energy all their own. The riveting documentary 
 produced by Martin Scorsese and directed by David Tedeschi  is anchored by black and white footage shot by Albert and David Maysles over the British quartet's 14-day trip to the United States in early 1964. 


This essential film captures the moment in time when the Beatles performed in front of 73 million Americans while appearing on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in February 1964; photos and archival footage are artfully interspersed with more recent interviews with McCartney, Starr and others who were there. There are also archival clips featuring the late Lennon and Harrison that add depth to the film.

The documentary features the Beatles in New York, Washington, D.C. (the latter where they performed their first American concert), and in trains where they are traveling.

The concert footage is extraordinary, as are the insightful interview segments.

"I was very excited when they recorded 'You've Really Got a Hold On Me'," recalls soul singer Smokey Robinson. "I had no idea they were going to record its until the record (With The Beatles) came out. I was elated."

For Baby Boomers and classic rock aficionados, the film will add to their appreciation of the Beatles' enormous legacy. And for those younger viewers who have heard about the Beatles but are not completely sure about why the Fab Four continues to be a "big deal," best to just sit back, watch and enjoy the exhilarating ride. 

Or as Lennon notes in one clip looking back at the Beatles' arrival in America: "It was like being in the eye of a Hurricane." 

On Nov. 22, one week before the documentary made its debut on Disney+, an eight-LP "1964 U.S. Albums In Mono" box set was released in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the Beatles stateside.



Robert Kinsler