A belated Thank You to everyone at Hometown Heroes Delaware Valley for awarding Embers in the Ash the 2024 Homey Award for Best Americana song. We appreciate the love.

2024 Homey Award for Best Americana song goes to Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen for"Embers in the Ash"
2024 Homey Award : Best Americana Song

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who shared the song, spun it on the radio, sang along at one of our shows or connected with it in any way. Your love and support means more than you realize.

And a special thank you to Brian D. McTear & Amy Morrissey at Miner St Recording for recording / producing the track, and to Joe Lambert for mastering. And much love and gratitude to everyone who played on it with me:

Dallas Cantland drums

Michael Stingle electric guitar

Ian Vos: upright bass

Julia Alford: accordian

And thanks to Brandon NewLove for powering through the storm with me while we shot the music video.

We’re heading back into the studio this month, to continue work on the new Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen album, so stay tuned for more tunes.

Cheers,

Mighty Joe Castro

The band is taking a short hiatus this summer to write and record more songs for the new album. BUT they will be playing two really special shows:

The Heavy Heavy with Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen at Elkton Music Hall July 24,2024

Wednesday July 24, Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen will be opening for The Heavy Heavy at Elkton Music Hall in Elkton, MD. Doors are at 7pm. Music starts at 8pm sharp. Tickets available here

Named as ones to watch by The Guardian, The Heavy Heavy’s balmy rock puts a modern uplifting twist on a ’60s sound. Led by vocalists Georgia Fuller and Will Turner, the Brighton five-piece merges the pop-rock sensibilities of Fleetwood Mac with the bluesy guitars of The Rolling Stones on 2022’s psychedelic debut Life and Life Only. Expect humming organs, four-part harmonies and a sense of showmanship at their live shows.

Hillbilly Casino, Sasquatch and the Sick-A-Billys with Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen at Kung Fu Necktie in Philly

Philadlephia: Thursday July 11, Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen return to Kung Fu Necktie to open for HIllbilly Casino and Sasquatch and the Sick-A-Billys. This is gonna be a barnstormer of a night so get there early. Doors at 7pm. Music starts at 8pm sharp. Tickets available here.

Stay up-to-date on all things Gravamen by following the band on instagram, facebook and spotify.

And if you haven’t been spinning Automatic Amnesia every day this summer already, then what are you waiting for?

Automatic Amnesia new single from Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen. Releases March 15, 2024

We are pleased to announce the upcoming release of our latest single, Automatic Amnesia on March 15th.

In the identity parade, sandwiched between Tom Waits and Portishead, the latest single from Philly’s favorite “rockabilly” band is a step downward into a dark cinematic underworld, where black & white film noir gems flicker on a broken TV set, and a Lynchian soundscape illuminates a Raymond Chandler crime scene. Produced by Brian McTear & Amy Morrissey at Miner Street Recordings, Philadelphia (War on Drugs, Sharon Van Etten).

Automatic Amnesia will be available on all streaming platform March 15. Please click here to presave the song on spotify. We appreciate your support and can’t wait for you to hear the record.

Wayne Hancock with Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen at Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia on Sunday March 24, 2024.

Philadelphia: we’ve missed you. The band has been on a temporary hiatus these past few months working on songs for their next record. But the time has come to dust off the suits and get back to the live stage.

Our first show back is a good one. The band will be opening for legendary performer Wayne “the Train” Hancock at Kung Fu Nectie on Sunday, March 24. More information below. Don’t miss this one!

Click here to purchase tickets.

dave kiss presents Wayne Hancock

Thomas Wayne Hancock III (born May 1, 1965, in Dallas, Texas) better known as Wayne “The Train” Hancock, is an American singer-songwriter. Known as “The King of Juke Joint Swing,” his performances incorporate jazz, blues, western swing, country and rockabilly, styles of music that he began listening to as a kid. His influences include Jimmie Rodgers, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Hank Thompson, Hank Williams and Hank Snow because they were all in his parents’ record collection.

Music on Spotify

Mighty Joe Castro & The Gravamen

Based out of Philadelphia, PA, Ameripolitan rockabilly outfit, Mighty Joe Castro & The Gravamen is the latest musical project from accomplished collage artist and musician Mighty Joe Castro (ex-The Situation, The Lift Up). Influenced by 50’s Rock and Roll and infused with post modern Easter eggs cribbed from old episodes of MTV’s 120 Minutes, Mighty Joe Castro takes a modern, lyric driven approach to songwriting while The Gravamen layer on Jesus and Mary Chain-cover-Link Wray guitar atmosphere, booming doghouse bass and swinging beats. The quartet lurks at a crossroads where Sun Records and Creation Records meet.

According to Joe Castro: “Our goal is to play original rock-n-roll, in the style of the pioneers, but update it lyrically and sonically. Take what we’ve learned, everything great that’s come after and go apply it to that original sound. What if Buddy Holly had access to a stack of effects pedals and some Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds records? That’s the ethos of the band.”

Music on Spotify

AGE RESTRICTION: Only Ages 21+ can purchase tickets for this show.  NO REFUNDS/EXCHANGES for anyone underage who purchases or attempts to use these tickets.

Doors: 7:00 PM

Show: 7:30 PM

Here is the brand new music video for our latest single, Embers in the Ash. It was directed by Mighty Joe Castro

From Mighty Joe Castro:

“We filmed this on April Fools Day in the Manayunk neighborhood in Philadelphia, a few blocks from one of the band’s practice spaces. Severe thunderstorms were in the forecast, with tornado warnings for the area. As the storm blew in, we squeezed in 5 takes in 15 minutes before being pelted with hail. Good times.

To achieve the slow motion effect, I first practiced lip syncing to a double speed version of the song. We filmed it at 60 fps. This way, when the footage was slowed down to normal 30 fps, it would match up perfectly with the original recording. I wanted to make sure that people could see the rain, while giving the video a dream like quality. We shot the video with my iPhone 12 using the Filmmic app. I edited it and did the color grading as well. I hope you dig it.

Special thanks to Brandon NewLove braving the storm with me while filming. I owe you one.”

Embers in the Ash on now available on all streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music.

Ember in the Ash album cover design by artist and musician Mighty Joe Castro

Follow Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen on instagram, spotify and facebook.

Ember in the Ash song by Ameripolitan rockabilly band Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen

We are pleased to announce the release of the band’s first single of 2023. Embers in the Ash was recorded at Miner St Recordings in Philadelphia. It was produced by Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey. Mastered by Joe Lambert. With it’s folk leanings and the addition of an accordion, the song offers a slight departure for the band. The group is currently recording more songs for an upcoming album release.

Speaking about the song to American Blues Scene, Mighty Joe Castro said:

Embers in the Ash. Glimmers of last chances set against a bleak Americana night sky. It’s warm and lived in, like a musty old blanket woven by Shane MacGowan and John Prine. Maybe Tom Waits was there, too – holding some yarn while chain smoking a cigarette, I don’t know. If he was there, I’m sure his shoes were amazing.

We recorded this between cups of coffee in the waning hours of the 2022 winter solstice. It was produced by Brian McTear & Amy Morrissey at Miner Street Recordings, Philadelphia. (War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, Sharon Van Etten). This leads off the 2023 edition of our ongoing love letter to mid-century Rockabilly Americana.

More to come, so keep your ear tuned for rumblings on the train tracks.


Embers in the Ash Track credits:

MIGHTY JOE CASTRO: vocals, acoustic guitar

DALLAS: drums

MIKE STINGLE: electric guitar

IAN VOS: upright bass

JULIA ALFRED: accordion

BRIAN MCTEAR / AMY MORRISSEY: backing vocals


In-between recording sessions, the band have still been playing shows. To stay current and updated, please follow Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen on instagram, facebook and spotify.

Vintage Style, Not Vintage Values.

Happy New Year everyone! Coming in hot for 2023, the band has a few new shows booked that we’re super stoked on…

New Shows Koffin Kats with Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen + The Krank Daddies at Bar XIII in Wilmington De

Our first show for year will be opening for the Koffin Kats and The Krank Daddies. Saturday February 4th at Bar XIII in Wilmington, De. Presented by the cool ghouls over at Horror Punks USA. Don’t sleep on this one. It might sell out. Tickets are on sale now. You can get yours here.

Philadelphia, PA: We’ll be returning to Kung Fu Necktie to open for pioneering UK psychobilly band The Meteors. Wednesday March 15th. We hit the stage at 7:30 PM sharp. Presented by Dave Kiss.

New Shows The Meteors with Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen at Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia, PA

And we’ll be joining our friends Kilmaine Saints for a special St Patricks Day show at The Englewood in Hershey Pa. If you caught our show together this past December at the Sellersville Theater, then you know this is not one to miss. Start making tracks toward Chocolate City, USA. Friday March 17th. Tickets are available here.

New Shows Kilmaine Saints and Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen at The Englewood in Hershey PA on St Patricks Day.

But that’s not all. More new shows to be announced really soon…

In other news, the band spent the first day of winter with Brian McTear at Miner Street Recordings. They will have a new single, Embers in the Ash, dropping sometime in early March. More music to come after that. Stay tuned.

For all the latest news and music, follow us on spotify / instagram / facebook / youtube .

Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen open for Kilmaine Saints at the Sellersville Theater

Celtic Punks meet the Rockabilly Rebels Uptown at Sellersville Theater.

Do not miss our last show of the year. We’ll be opening for Kilmaine Saints at the Sellersville Theater. Thursday December 29th. Come shake off those post holiday blues with a night of high energy rock-n-roll. All ages welcome. Doors open at 7:30pm. We hit the stage at 8pm sharp.

Get your ticket today!

About Kilmaine Saints

Kilmaine Saints is a band formed on good whiskey and bad intentions. The brainchild of two members of a Harrisburg Pipe & Drum band, this project was originally created with the sole intent of getting them free beer at St. Patrick’s Day shows in the central PA area (and might I add – mission accomplished). After incorporating the help of fellow members from the pipe band and other notable musicians from the area, they soon realized they were in for one hell of a ride. Since 2009 they have continued to pound through blistering, high-energy live sets that keep people singing along, stomping their feet, lifting their pints and shouting for more. With several hundred shows at pubs and festivals from New Jersey to California, critically acclaimed releases under their belts, national and international airplay, and an ever-expanding and extremely loyal fanbase, it’s no wonder the world is starting to stand up and take notice. In short, The Kilmaine Saints are equal parts Irish swagger, Scottish pride, and whiskey. This explosive Celtic rock band from central PA will steal your heart, your spirit, and your pint when you’re not looking.

And, as always, you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify to stay up to date on everything happening with the band.

Cheers, friends!

Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen black t shrt

it’s been a long time coming but the wait is over. The Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen T-shirt you’ve been pining for is NOW AVAILABLE. Grab one (or a bakers dozen, perhaps?) today from our online boutique or in some darken alley after one of our live shows.

2 options available:

For the bold and the beautiful, there’s the ever sleek “June Rose” black tee (pictured above).

For those who like to keep it on the down low, consider the “There Are No Secrets Here Motel Key” option, available in Pink (my personal favorite) and Gray.

There are No Secrets Here grey
 Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen T-shirt
There are No Secrets Here pink Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen T-shirt

$25 American

All are printed on Bella + Canvas Unisex Jersey T-Shirt. Screen printed by Jersey Ink in Reading, PA. Check them out.

Illustration and design by Mighty Joe Castro

And, as always, you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify to stay up to date on everything happening with the band.

Cheers, friends!

“June (90 Degrees) – Live at the Parkside Lounge, NYC, Aug 27, 2002

Thank you to everyone who made it out to our recent shows in Lebanon, PA and New York City. It’s always a pleasure to play the Parkside Lounge. For those who couldn’t make it, here’s a clip of us performing June (90 Degrees). It was filmed by Simone Zimmermann and features a quick cameo by Steve Krebs and Kipp Elbaum, two of NYC’s finest gentlemen,

And we had a great time at the inaugural Rockabilly Rawkus at Scott Church’s The Church. We got more shows planned for out that way so keep your eyes peeled.

For those who weren’t there, you’re in luck. They filmed our whole set so feel free to grab a beverage and live vicariously through the medium of glowing screen. We played June (90 Degrees) during that set as well so feel free to compare and contrast.

On a side note, we’re taking some time downtime to work on songs for a new record, and to rework a few things musically. Good things are coming so stay tuned.

And, as always, you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify to stay up to date on everything happening with the band.

Cheers, friends!