Concerts – Page 11 – Reverb Lounge

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers

Multiple award-winning guitarist, vocalist, and bandleader Tommy Castro is a California-based blues and rock powerhouse. For over four decades, he’s captivated audiences with his soul-drenched vocals, searing guitar work, and high-energy live shows. As frontman of the telepathically tight and wildly raucous Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, he’s released 17 albums that span a wide stylistic range—from horn-driven R&B and hot-blooded soul to gritty, stripped-down rock and electric blues. With his latest and eighth Alligator Records release, Closer To The Bone, Castro returns to his roots, delivering what he calls “a real blues record, the way they would have made them back in the day.” Produced by guitar master Christoffer “Kid” Andersen at San Jose’s Greaseland Studio, the album is Castro’s rawest and most direct blues effort to date. The album features standout originals like Ain’t Worth The Heartache, Can’t Catch A Break, and Crazy Woman Blues, alongside deep-cut covers of songs by Castro’s friends and influences—Johnny Nitro, Magic Slim, Ron Thompson, Chris Cain, and more. Guest appearances include Rick Estrin, Billy Branch, Deanna Bogart, Chris Cain, Jim Pugh, and gospel harmonies from The Sons Of The Soul Revivers. Born in San Jose in 1955, Castro picked up the guitar at age 10 and was inspired by icons like Elvin Bishop, Taj Mahal, and Mike Bloomfield. He absorbed everything from Ike & Tina Turner to John Lee Hooker and Buddy Guy, developing a uniquely uplifting and soulful style rooted in blues, R&B, and funk. After early stints with Bay Area bands including NiteCry and The Dynatones, Castro formed the first Tommy Castro Band in 1992. Castro’s career took off when his band became the house band on NBC’s Comedy Showcase, airing after Saturday Night Live. He soon built a reputation as a must-see live act, touring relentlessly and releasing acclaimed albums with Blind Pig, Telarc, 33rd Street, and eventually Alligator Records, where his 2009 debut Hard Believer marked a new chapter of critical and commercial success. Notable releases include The Devil You Know (2014), Stompin’ Ground (2017), Killin’ It – Live (2019), and A Bluesman Came To Town (2021), which AllMusic hailed as “a towering achievement.” Castro is one of the most decorated artists in contemporary blues, winning 10 Blues Music Awards, including four B.B. King Entertainer of the Year honors—the genre’s highest accolade. His no-frills, 150-shows-a-year approach has earned him a fiercely loyal fanbase and praise from legends like Joe Bonamassa, who says, “Tommy has always been top of the heap among blues guitar players. He always puts on a great show.” With Closer To The Bone, Tommy Castro strips it all back to deliver an album brimming with grit, fire, and authenticity. “This is the deeper blues side of me,” says Castro. “With these songs, I am at my most authentic.”

Snooze

Snooze: happy heavy mathy band from Chicago Spotify | Instagram | Facebook

Barns Courtney Unplugged Solo Sessions

Barns Courtney has lived through more industry upheaval than most artists survive — A&Rs disappearing, catalogs sold off, years stuck in dead-end contracts — yet he’s still standing. Signed at 19, reduced to sofa-surfing and odd jobs, he clawed his way back when Bradley Cooper hand-picked his voice for Burnt, just as his DIY single Glitter & Gold — recorded in an abandoned care home with filing cabinets for drums — quietly went platinum in the US. Since then, multiple Top 10 alt-radio hits and a reputation for chaotic, unmissable live shows have made him one of rock’s best-kept secrets. Now, a decade on and finally free on indie label Avenue A, Courtney isn’t making a comeback — he’s proving the music always connects, even when the machine fails.

Scattered Hamlet

Scattered Hamlet is a hard rock/southern metal band known for their “Honky Tonk Metal” sound, blending heavy riffs with outlaw country and biker rock, originating around 2010 with vocalist Adam Joad. They’re known for relentless touring, high-energy shows, and media placements on CMT, CBS, and in Nitro Circus, with albums like Skeleton Dixie and Swamp Rebel Machine gaining traction. The band fosters a strong community with fans called “Hell Riders” and connects with them through authentic social media. https://www.scatteredhamlet.com/ Molten: heavy / groove / thrash metal from Omaha https://www.instagram.com/molten_official_/ Fallen Reign: prog / power metal from Omaha https://www.instagram.com/fallenreign The Hooligan Gentlemen: 4-piece hard rock band from Omaha https://www.instagram.com/thehooligangentlemen/ The Dead Man’s Band: Omaha based hard rock band https://www.instagram.com/thedeadmansbandsinsta/

GlizzyFest

DAY 1 (FRIDAY) LINEUP: VIRGIN MARY, PISTOL GRIP, PETTY BIEGE, BURN THE WITCH HUNTERS, FALSE POSITIVE, FEVEREST, FLORA NOVA, JUSTIN PICKETT, JOY RAGER, KEVIN MCCLURE, KID CORDUROY, RANDALL GRUBER, TJUNIOR, ASHFROMTHEPAST HOSTED BY OTIS JULIUS with SURREAL THE MC (ON THE 1’S & 2’S) DAY 2 (SATURDAY) LINEUP: OTIS JULIUS w/ DJ STRAWSTONE, FOREST, JAY INFLUENTIAL, BIGG RAY WEST, BOBO THUH BREADBOY, DREAD & STRANGE, HYBRID PROMOTIONS, ZARATTI, LUCKS, DUSTIN WARBEAR & ACE WILD, AYCE, CRISIS CHILD, HEART BREAK KING, THUGGY YUXK, BOYD, JAMIE TRILLER, JXHNNY BLISS, KING SERP, KAZPYR, KRMZN ENGMA, LORETTA LIT, URIAH G FRIENDS, CODY CROOKZ, 4WORN N4TION, UPSET, AUSTIN BELIEVE, VIRTUE-US HOSTED BY OTIS JULIUS with SURREAL THE MC (ON THE 1’S & 2’S) and a FREE AFTER PARTY w/ OCEAN AVENUE DAY 3 (SUNDAY) LINEUP: FEARSAID, SMOKEBREAK, EVIL SHADOWS, TILL HELL, XENO ZEUS, IZZY DUNFORE, JAY LIVELY, MUMBLES, OGI KIDD, P-TRO, ATM, ALIEN NATION REVIVAL, ILLANOISE, 3BLADE HOSTED BY OTIS JULIUS with SURREAL THE MC (ON THE 1’S & 2’S)