The Blood Brothers

Help Yourself

Gulf Coast Records

The Blood Brothers are an ensemble based around primary members  Albert Castiglia and Mike Zito, included are Albert Castiglia, vocals  and guitar; Mike Zito, vocals and guitar; Lewis Stephens, piano and  organ; Scot Sutherland, bass guitar; and either Matt Johnson, drums  and vocals, or Ray Hangen, drums and percussion. The nine originals  include three written solely by Castiglia; four written solely by Zito; one co-written by Zito and Castiglia; one written by the band; and one cover. The album was recorded and engineered by Paul Weihagen at Shock City Studios in St. Louis, Missouri.

Although born in New York City, the Miami-raised Albert Castiglia served  his apprenticeship backing the legendary blues musician Junior Wells.  He later went on to work with singer Sandra Hall. Castiglia embarked on  a solo career and recorded his debut album “Burn” in 2002. Blues artists are usually not overnight sensations but Castiglia’s drought didn’t come to an end until 2020. It was the release of his album “Masterpiece”,  inspired by the discovery that he had a daughter by a former girlfriend,  the album resulting in Castiglia winning his first Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Album of the Year. Castiglia followed-up in 2022 winning another BMA for “Blood Brothers” as Blues Rock Artist of the Year. He repeated winning again in both those categories in 2023, for his album “I Got Love”. Castiglia garnished his fifth BMA, as 2024’s Contemporary Blues Rock Album of the Year. Castiglia has now won five BMA Awards in the last two years. Now they say the sky’s the limit.

Mike Zito worked ten years at a downtown St. Louis guitar shop where  an older employee taught him an appreciation for the music of The Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, and B.B. King. His independently produced debut “Blue Room” was released in 1997. Zito followed-up with 1999’s “America Most Wanted”; 2004’s “Slow It Down”; and 2006’s “Superman”. Zito  acknowledges that there were ‘bumps in the road’, that he previously had bouts with alcoholism. Many of Zito’s songs deal with redemption and he  credits musch of his recovery to meeting his wife. Zito came to the  attention of Delta Groove’s Randy Chortkoff who was just starting the  Eclecto Groove label. Zito’s first internationally distributed album “Today” was released in 2008. The follow-up album “Pearl River” included the  title track co-written with Cyril Neville and it resulted in Zito winning his first Blues Music Award as “Song of The Year”. Zito, Neville and  Devon Allman co-founded “Royal Southern Brotherhood” in 2012,  and together they released two studio albums and one live recording,  resulting in another BMA. In 2013 Zito formed a new band ‘The Wheel’, on the Ruf Records label. In 2014 Zito announced he would leave RSB in order to tour with his own band. In 2024 Zito released the album “Life Is Hard” winning another BMA for “Blues Rock Album of the Year”.

The Blood Brothers open with the title track “Help Yourself”,written by  Zito “why don’t you just walk it off, you just keep on walkin’…you just  have to help yourself…you just got to help yourself, nobody else will  do it”. On “Can’t Be A Prophet” written by Castiglia “read in the  papers…can’t be a prophet in your home town…ain’t no sense in  sticking ’round, can’t be a prophet in your home town”.

On the melodic “Alive” from Zito he sings “lift me up, when I’m down,  make me feel alive…life has taken everything, I was strong of heart… I started to breathe again, you make me feel alive”. “Soulard Serenade” is an instrumental written by the band with some great piano and  Hammond organ by Stephens as Castiglia and Zito trade solos. Both drummers are featured as Johnson is joined by Hangen on percussion.

“Low Down” is the only cover, originally written and performed by  J.J. Cale in 1996, “Low down dirty shame, I got the boogie-woogie blues since I heard your name, no more, no more blues, what can  go wrong? low down dirty shame, I’ve had the blues ever since I  heard your name”. “The Best I Can” is the Zito/Castiglia co-write  with organ from Stephens as Castiglia sings “I gather…that you  no longer care for me…you act like I don’t exist…all in all you just  don’t give a damn, I will try the best I can”.

“Prove My Love” is another from Zito “went to sleep last night  wondering where you been…I know I got to prove my love, we  would laugh and play all night long…no baby, I have to prove  my love…I will treat you like a queen, I got to prove my love… one more chance”. “OL’ Victrola” is from Castiglia, as he chimes  “just as I put the needle down in the groove…rock n’ roll on  thirty-three and a third…rock n’ roll make me happy to be alive  with ZZ Top on the ol’ Victrola, make me want to rock and roll  with you”.

“Running Out Of Time” from Zito “early in the morning, got to  hit the road, we got nothing much too lose, we’re running out of time…I woke up in a cold sweat, you took everything and  left me here to cry and I’m running out of time”. On the closer “Do What You Gotta” from Castiglia, he chants “a long time to get there, you gotta do what you gotta, to do what you want… do what you gotta’ do, to do what you want” as the Brothers absolutely shred it on their guitars.

Both Castiglia and Zito are legacy artists on their own. When combined they are a force of nature. As of late, they also  perform with comedian, actor, and singer Bill Murray. The  addition of Murray only takes them higher, so much so that they are able to play ‘Red Rocks’. What is happening is extraordinary. I hope you’re as excited as I am as the Blood Brothers are guaranteed to make you smile.

Richard Ludmerer

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