Join Daniel and his band and RING IN THE NEW YEAR with the Blues. Louie's Blues in Turlock is hosting a fun New Year's Eve bash!! The show is Wednesday, December 31. Showtime is 9:00pm and dinner is served until 11pm. Come on out and enjoy a great dinner at Louie's then dance til midnight and beyond with Daniel and the band. A dinner and show ticket is just $50. A show only ticket is $25. For tickets, contact Louie's Blues, (209) 667-7077, or in person at 4905 Golden State Blvd in Turlock. We look forward to seeing you there and
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Bay Area Bands Help Raise Money For Two Young Girls In Need - Amanda Fox Benefit Concert
On Sunday, October 26, 2003, some of the best bands in the Bay Area will get together for a day of great music, fun and raffle prizes. The reason? To raise some money on behalf of two young girls, Adrianna Lee Ellis and her sister Mariah Linne Ellis. These girls lost their dear mother, Amanda Fox, to a long battle with leukemia. Their grandfather, Mickey Fox, will use the money raised to start up college funds for the girls.
The event will be held at the Last Day Saloon, 120 Fifth Street in Santa Rosa. Doors open at 2pm. The lineup is unbelievable: Alameda All Stars, Chris Cobb, Daniel Castro, Johnny Nitro, Joe Louis Walker, Levi Lloyd, MO Blues Band, Nick Gravenites, Ron Hacker, The Detroit Disciples, The Royal Dogs, Tommy Castro, and Volker Strifler.
For more information, check out the page at Sonomatunes.com or sfblues.net.
Daniel Castro LIVE recording!!
Daniel is working on his next album which is promised to be the much requested LIVE CD. There will be a couple places where you can be a part of of the experience. First chance will be Saturday, March 29 at the Saloon in North Beach. Daniel will play the afternoon gig from 4-8 as a warm up then things will really get cooking as the band plays the big time from 9:30 to 1:30. Show up early and get a good spot because this is going to be a night to remember. Stay tuned here for details on other locations....
Daniel Castro Opens for Charlie Musselwhite
On July 5th, 2002, Daniel had the great pleasure of opening the show for Blues Legend Charlie Musselwhite at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa, CA. It was a hot night in a great room. The crowd was ready to hear some blues and they weren't disappointed. The show was sponsered by local radio station KRSH, "The Krush" . If you can get the signal, give them a listen. Word has it they've been spinning Daniel's CD recently. Request your favorite cut!
Stockton Blues Festival, May 18th 2002
Check out all the details of this amazing festival at the Stockton Blues Festival Website. Daniel is scheduled to take the stage at 1:15 pm but keep checking the webpage for any updates prior to the show. There will be plenty of fun at this Festival as there are loads of great Bay Area acts scheduled to appear. Tickets can be purchased in advance (check the website for locations) or on the day of the show. If you love great Bay Area blues, this is a not to miss event!
Stockton Asparagus Festival, April 26, 27, 28th 2002!!
What is the Asparagus Festival you say? In short, it is a three-day multi-event food and entertainment festival celebrating the most prestigious agricultural product in San Joaquin County....you know, Asparagus. But there is more, oh so much more to this event. For full history and details, check out the Stockton Asparagus Festival Website.
But here's what you REALLY need to know. Daniel Castro will be playing the festival on Saturday, April 27. Daniel's show will be from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Wells Fargo "Spear-its of the Valley" Blues Stage. This festival promises food, fun, music and sun. Tickets can be purchased in advance at local Stockton businesses (see website for details) or on the day of the show. Get the kids and come on out. Who doesn't love Asparagus?
Rumsey Blues Festival
Last year, Rick and Linda Wilson, the same folks who brought you Cache Canyon River Trips, put on an amazing blues festival. They brought out their favorite bands to the banks of the Cache Creek and threw a fest that echoed off the canyon walls. The previous year Daniel had been the guest of Johnny Nitro and the Doorslammers, but last year Daniel and his band headlined the event. Other groups on the festival were Chris Cobb and The Cathy Lemons and Johnny Ace Blues Band. It was an amazing time and the Blues Summitt to close the show was unbelievable. Check out the Cache Canyon River Trips webpage for the 2002 lineup.
Cache Canyon River Trips
Daniel Castro is back at Cache Canyon this summer. Daniel played this Rumsey, CA, gig in years past, and the outdoor venue is a favorite. After a day of whitewater rafting, Cache Canyon River Trips celebrate with a bar-b-que and live music. Daniel is playing this year on June 30th starting at around 5:00 in the evening. Check out the official website for Cache Canyon River Trips to find the closest whitewater rafting to San Francisco, and some of the best entertainment the Bay Area has to offer.
Fire on the Mountain Blues Festival
On Saturday, August 11, 2001, Daniel Castro and his band will be playing the Fire on the Mountain Blues Festival in Sonora, CA. Other acts on the bill include the Bay Area's own Ron Hacker and the Hacksaws, Ron Thompson and the Resisters, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Fliers, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, and Coco Montoya. The festival promises great food and drink along with craft booths and micro brews. Check out the website for all the details.
Get your tickets now!! August 11 is coming fast!!!
Daniel is back at the Grant and Green
Daniel is pleased to announce his return to regular Thursday nights at the Grant & Green Saloon in North Beach, San Francisco. If you've been following Daniel for awhile, you'll remember the awesome Thursday nights that Daniel and his band held down for years. Now that the Grant & Green is newly refurbished and open for business, Daniel is proud to come back to the Thursday night tradition. The buzz is already out in the neighborhood. All of the "regulars" are coming back and the newest fans are making it their Thursday destination. We hope to see you there beginning Thursday, June 7, 2001. Not familiar with the Grant & Green? Get the directions here.
Winthrop Blues Festival
Over the weekend of July 14-16, 2000, Daniel and the band had the great pleasure of playing the 13th annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival in Winthrop, WA. Daniel and his band played to an amazing crowd at a local club called the Winthrop Palace on Friday night. Daniel had never played the Winthrop area before and the support of the local crowd was overwhelming. Saturday afternoon Daniel and the band took to the stage at the festival and played to an incredible crowd that was on their feet the whole time. Daniel and the band closed out the tour by hosting a jam session with other groups from the Festival at the Winthrop Brewery on Sunday.
We could tell ya all about it, but instead, here's the review and the lowdown from someone who was there (see the entire posting on our guestbook):
"Castro and Company arrived at the Winthrop Palace during the late afternoon of Friday for his show later that evening and his appearance tomorrow at the Winthrop Blues Festival. He was met by John and karen who returned telling of their conversations with the man. After the envy fell off, the SPAM BOYS and, as Daniel pointed out later during the evening set, 'One SPAM chick', prepared and found our way to the Palace. It was and odd shaped room with off-shoot connecting rooms for seating, a fair sized bar, outer deck and a dance floor the size of your living room without all the furniture.
They kicked off the first two hour set with 'On The Telephone and worked their way up tp 'Talk About MY Baby' which became an extended jam that came around three times with the now packed house taking on all the lead vocals just before it was shut down with a smashing/thrashing-type ending. It was one of those experiences where you say to yourself - - - 'I believes I bees in for a longs night with this one here.'
Damn, they were very tight, yet loose. I moved back to our table for some relief and - - - off they go again. But, what is that? That sound? Castro has fallen into a 6 or 8 bar riff that is being counter pointed by none other than John on a pea harp. Hell, he's on stage with Castro who is leaving him to his own due - - - and on a pea harp no less. This is priceless!!!!! A short interlude takes place back at our table with all the SPAM crowd when the first cords of 'Mojo' are heard demanding for all to return to the dance floor. WOW!!!! The house picked-up on the call back chorus early in the song which continued to build to an unbelievable pitch. This was it. Muddy would have been proud, if not taken aback, by allthe overall power and grasp the band had of his standard. You had to be there.
The second set lost nothing following a short break. It's SHOW TIME!!!! I move back to the dance floor and find two chairs against the wall and stand on one of them to get a better view of the proceedings. Lori, Daniel's peroidic vocalist, joins me on the other chair with the extended jams continuing unabated. I became aware that the chair I am standing on is heaving. I questioned if the floor was sprung like the Avalon, but no. Hell, this place is going to drop right into the Methow River with all this pounding weight and mayhem. GREAT FUN!!!! New song. Slow and deliberate cording. I turn to Lori and ask, 'Watchtower?'. Lori returned, 'Oh, yeah.' Again, in my head, I am questioning Castro's choice of taking on an icon of the folk/rock genre. Does he have the prowess to do so? (Yea, of little faith.) It's presented as a - - - it's arranged as a blues, yet staying true to the original form. WOW!!!! The house takes on vocal responsibilities again with only limited coaxing from Daniel. The whole house is yelling the lyrics as if they were unleashed and angered Dylans.
This WAS it. The show closes with the SPAM BOYs and ONE SPAM CHICK retreating with mouths agape and in wait fot tomorrow's set at the festival.
They came on at about 1:15 or 1:30. The central Washington sun was also in fine form causing for the vast majority of the audience to lay low in fear of heat exhaustion, but Daniel had them up in no time picking-up where he left off the night before. The party is back on people - - - but it is short lived. Time restraints, you know. The next act and all that sorta thing. But, hey, this is cooking. A GREAT SET!!!! PUSH!!!! PUSH!!!! The bottom was pounding, driving and counter pointing just like the night before. Daniel's fill work on his own lead was exceptional. And, he knew that - - - we knew it as well with that smile and wink of his eye. Twas a wonderful set to say the very least. Daniel falls into his verbal good-bye to the crowd and jumps into 'MOJO' and works the living hell out of it. Build, build, fall-off, build, Build, BUILD!!!!Wham/slam/bam/BOOM!!!!!! He now gets into having the crowd call out the chorus. You know the drill, but this is more than a full house of booze and such. The first tease is given to the audience who respond in loud and uproarious return calling for Daniel to take a step back laughing to himself. Yes, the festival WAS his. He worked and squeezed the end of Mud's song for everything he and the audience could get. And, we got it. EVERYBODY UP!!!!! And, it was over.
For those reading this and who have never experienced this band, do so NOW!!!! You say - - -'Oh, hell it's just a blues band.' Wrong. Very Wrong."
John Anderson-Taylor
(Thank you John for your kind words and your neverending support! You are the greatest! There's no way we could have said it better......ALL HAIL THE SPAM MAN!)
Click here for more pictures from Winthrop
Daniel Plays Sturgis, South Dakota
Coming up August 3rd through August 9th, Daniel will again be the special guest of good friends Lori Davidson and the Intruders . This time the venue is the world known 2000 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, where Daniel and the Intruders will be playing several nights at local clubs in conjunction with the rally. Check our dates page for locations.
Daniel started off the tour with a couple nights in Tucson, hometown to The Intruders, then got on the road to Sturgis to play for the participants in the 60th anniversary of the annual event, one of the largest motorcycle rallies around. Check out the rally's offical website for all the details.
Click here for more Sturgis picture
CD Release Party
The CD release party for Daniel's debut CD "No Surrender" was held on Saturday, April 1st and despite all the obvious April Fool's jokes, it was a resounding success. The party happened at The Minnow in Alameda. The turnout was even greater than expected and the band played to both a large and excited crowd. Daniel played most of the songs from the CD along with plenty of the band's and the crowd's favorites.
The band consisted of David Savage on piano, T Moran on drums and Kevin White on bass. Special guests included guitarists Marke "Jellyroll" Burgstahler and Larry Dunn, Michael Peloquin on tenor sax, Tom Poole on trumpet, Danny Armstrong on trombone and a surprise guest appearance from the incomparable Mz. Dee along with David Krull, keyboardist with the late Jimmie Rogers. Lee Parvin, the producer and engineer for "No Surrender" brought out his Hammond B3 organ and sat in with the band. It was an amazing night and Daniel wishes to thank everyone who came out that night for their love and support.
Click here for pictures from the party
Daniel Castro Plays Tucson
Recently Daniel had the chance to head down towards Tucson for a visit with good friends Lori Davidson and Kenny Embrey. Daniel had the great pleasure of sitting in with Lori Davidson and the Intruders at a great Tucson club, Margarita Bay. If you're ever down that way stop by Margarita Bay. The turnout was great and Daniel loved meeting all the blues fans in Tucson.
Click here for more pictures from Tucson
Contact us at: blueslive@yahoo.com