Out February 7, 2025, Closer To The Bone is the highly anticipated new album from California-based blues powerhouse Tommy Castro. Known for his electrifying guitar work and soul-stirring vocals, Castro and his band, the Painkillers, bring an unfiltered, back-to-basics approach to this collection—one the four-time Blues Music Award winner calls "the record I've always wanted to make."

With Closer To The Bone, Castro and the Painkillers—bassist Randy McDonald, keyboardist Mike Emerson, and drummer Bowen Brown—strip the music down to its core. The album features a mix of Castro's gritty originals like "Ain’t Worth The Heartache" and "Crazy Woman Blues" alongside deeply personal renditions of tracks by blues legends and unsung heroes. Among the standouts are Johnny Nitro’s “One More Night,” Magic Slim’s “Hole In The Wall,” and Jimmy Nolen’s “The Way You Do.” Castro even breathes fresh life into Wynonie Harris’ "Bloodshot Eyes" and Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s “She Moves Me.” “These aren’t the usual suspects for covers,” Castro explains. “I wanted to shine a light on the deeper cuts and the artists who inspire me.”

The album’s lead single, "Woke Up And Smelled The Coffee," penned by blues virtuoso Chris Cain, exemplifies Castro's deep respect for contemporary blues talent. “People often cover B.B. King or Buddy Guy—why not Chris Cain?” Castro asks. “His music is just as vital and deserving of the spotlight.”

Recorded at Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studio in San Jose, California, the album boasts a raw, authentic vibe. Andersen, a prolific producer, pushed Castro to embrace his "deeper blues side," delivering a sound that’s as visceral as it is timeless. “This is me at my most authentic,” Castro says.

Over a career spanning more than four decades and 17 albums, Castro has explored everything from horn-driven R&B to rock-infused blues. But with Closer To The Bone, he reconnects with his roots, creating what he describes as “a real blues record, the way they would have made them back in the day.”

Born in San Jose in 1955, Castro found early inspiration in blues greats like Elvin Bishop, Taj Mahal, and Mike Bloomfield, while local legends like John Lee Hooker and Albert King set the stage for his lifelong love of the genre. By the mid-1980s, Castro was a fixture on the Bay Area scene, fronting bands like NiteCry and Warner Brothers' the Dynatones before forming the Tommy Castro Band in 1992. His national profile soared when his band served as the house group for NBC’s Comedy Showcase, putting him in front of millions of viewers weekly.

Since signing with Alligator Records in 2009, Castro has consistently delivered critically acclaimed releases, earning six Blues Music Awards along the way. His 2012 album The Devil You Know marked the debut of the Painkillers, a no-frills quartet whose chemistry has made them one of the most sought-after live acts on the circuit.

Closer To The Bone is an album that’s as much a love letter to the blues as it is a showcase of Tommy Castro's artistry. He sums it up best: “This is where I started and where I’ve always wanted to go back to. It’s the most honest music I’ve ever made.”

“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