The number of individual artists and bands who have sustained a thriving career for 30 years is extremely small and a practice in persistence. “We’ve lasted longer than all our marriages combined, and we’re still rockin somewhere nearly every night” Castro and McDonald jest as they remain the constant core of the group for 30 years.

The staggering number of shows performed together is well over 6000, including 3 seasons as house band for HBO productions “Comedy Showcase”, two summer long tours with BB King and Buddy Guy, 40 music cruises (including 33 consecutive sold out Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruises), and many of the largest music festivals worldwide. The band’s collaborations have included John Lee Hooker, Carlos Santana, Bob Weir, Gregg Allman, Dr John, Willie Nelson, Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa, Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Magic Dick of The J. Geils Band, Taj
Mahal and Los Lobos.

“Castro is one of the brightest stars in the blues-soul genre. Voracious blues energy and ultimate soul power…impassioned vocals and pure inventiveness in his stellar guitar solos.” – Blues Music Magazine

The bands lineup has changed over their 3-decade span, as has its name, adding “The Painkillers” to the billing after a long-time fan pronounced the band’s music her “painkiller”. The moniker inspired Tommy and he immediately penned the song that became the title track of the Painkiller Album and eventually the band’s new name. McDonald, along with drummer Bowen Brown and keyboardist Michael Emerson, in the current lineup have now been playing together for seven years. They have coalesced into one of the telepathically tightest units Castro has ever assembled, making them one of the most in-demand live roots music acts performing today.