‘Blood Brothers’
By Mike O’Cull
Guitar stars Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia bring their considerable talents together and shoot soulful sparks on their much-anticipated new duo album Blood Brothers.
Blood Brothers comes out March 17th, 2023 on Zito’s Gulf Coast Records imprint and was produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith. It’s a smashing set of roots rock and blues that spotlights everything cool about Zito and Castiglia without ever turning into a battle between two successful bandleaders. Rather, the record feels like a deep musical connection on display and a full-band effort. These two guys clearly share a brotherhood that most musicians never find. They’ve used it to combine their complementary skill sets and backing bands and make a record many are already calling a career-best for both men. Everybody plays with everybody in the blues scene but something special seems to happen every time these two plug in together.
Both Zito and Castiglia are multi-Blues Music Award winners and have each developed large, loyal followings. They teamed up to rock a highly-successful string of “Blood Brothers” gigs in 2022 and will be doing so again this year, including what promises to be a spectacular show at the Big Blues Bender in Las Vegas in September. The whole process has been an exciting experience for both guitar slingers. “This album was a blast to make and I am even more excited to take this music out on the road and perform for the people,” says Mike Zito. “It’s just a bit more complex with an overall band dynamic that I think sets it apart from what Albert and I normally do.”
From the moment the record launches with the Stones-y grind of “Hey Sweet Mama,” the good vibes come by the truckload. Mike and Albert are skin-tight and fired up on this roadhouse rocker and show up large on lead vocals and lead guitar. Their chemistry is so obvious you barely notice it before getting swept up in what they’re putting down. Chuck Berry would be proud to know that his influence is still being felt and inspiring music like this.
Zito makes his soul-stirring vocals the early focus of the Southern Rock number “In My Soul.” His high, clear vocal tones fly over an acoustic guitar and then over the full band. Castiglia handles the lead guitar work on this one and his expertly-phrased lines match Zito’s emotion.
“Tooth And Nail” digs into some Allman-flavored blues complete with harmonizing guitars and Zito’s sweet slide licks. It’s a tough shuffle with a big backbeat that could blow up any room in the world. Moments like this are when Zito, Castiglia, and the rest of the musicians sound and feel like a cohesive unit the most. They really speak to the egoless maturity of this lot and how well they all listen to each other.
The heart-rending torch song “A Thousand Heartaches” describes an emotional place we’ve all been in before. Castiglia’s lead vocals are genuinely vulnerable and real and Joe Bonamassa plays a wonderful solo that comes off the same way. People expect Joe to inject his firepower into everything but here he plays with a gentle touch and warm tone that are overwhelmingly musical.
Full album listeners will be rewarded with the swinging instrumental “Hill Country Jam.” Again, we’re treated to harmonized lead guitars, which is an arrangement idea that should be heard more often. The entire band is tied together in the pocket and the playing is impressive at all positions. Both guitarists know when to lean in and when to pull back, which allows each to shine brightly.
Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia are meant to work together and interact musically in ways that can’t be built or bought. They have to be found in the way that life brought these two into each other’s presence. The organic, intangible factors that populate Blood Brothers have to occur naturally. They hardly ever do, which is what makes this record so special. The universe wants what it wants and, right now, it wants this. Miss it and miss out.
Pre-order Blood Brothers HERE
“Trouble No More” Mike Zito, Albert Castiglia
Thanks to BluesBroad for the video
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