Get ready for an unforgettable night of powerhouse blues when Tommy Castro & The Painkillers return to The Sherbino. With impassioned vocals, blazing guitar work, and a reputation for electrifying live shows, Castro has been hailed as “one of the foremost practitioners of electric blues” (Living Blues). His high-energy performances blend blues, soul, R&B, and rock in a way that “rocks the soul and lifts the spirits” (No Depression).
About Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
Multiple award-winning, California-based blues and rock vocalist/guitarist Tommy Castro has built a four-decade career on soulful, emotionally resonant songwriting and searing musicianship. Across 17 acclaimed albums, Castro has honed a signature sound that mixes hard-driving blues, gritty R&B, and stripped-down rock ’n’ roll.
His latest album, Closer To The Bone, marks a return to his roots—raw, unvarnished blues played with the fire and urgency of “the way they would have made them back in the day.” The record is one of the straightest-ahead blues releases of his career, bristling with emotional power and dynamic playing.
Joining Castro are The Painkillers:
Randy McDonald – bass
Mike Emerson – keyboards
Bowen Brown – drums
Together, the band delivers high-octane performances and a chemistry forged through years on the road.
About Tommy Castro:
Born in San Jose in 1955, Castro picked up a guitar at age 10 and was soon captivated by icons like Elvin Bishop, Taj Mahal, and Mike Bloomfield. Over the decades, he has toured alongside nearly every major blues and soul act—from Ike and Tina Turner to Janis Joplin to Tower of Power—and continues to bring the same vitality to the stage today. His performances are known for fiery guitar solos, soulful vocals, and the kind of crowd-moving energy that makes every show feel like a celebration.
About the Album: Closer To The Bone
Released on Alligator Records, Closer To The Bone showcases Castro’s songwriting alongside fresh takes on songs by friends and influences including Johnny Nitro, Magic Slim, Mike Duke, Chris Cain, Wynonie Harris, Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Nolen, and Johnny “Guitar” Watson. These deep-cut selections highlight Castro’s love of blues history—“not the obvious artists people usually cover,” he notes.
The album was produced by the legendary Kid Andersen (The Sons of The Soul Revivers) at his famed Greaseland Studio in San Jose. Guests on the album include Andersen himself, Rick Estrin, Chris Cain, Billy Branch, and vocalist/saxophonist Deanna Bogart.
Setting: Mixed Room = Some reserved tables (with names on them), Some low G.A. Seats (toward bar), Room to dance/stand in the center of the room to the rear || Tickets: General Admission: $25 in advance, $30 day of show || Reserved tables: $34 pp (must buy full table) || If you're looking for GA seats, they are located below the seating diagram || If you want reserved tables, you'll click on the various available tables to purchase. Tables are "set" for number of seats at a table and cannot be adjusted.
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