Back Side of Down

Collection Contents

#		Title	Length
1		GUILTY	2:33	Play
2		ALL THE WALLS	3:07	Play
3		SPARKLE & FADE	3:49	Play
4		ROAD LESS TRAVELED	2:47	Play
5		HOME	3:26	Play
6		TEMPTING	3:13	Play
7		PUNCH LINE	3:40	Play
8		SORROW	3:25	Play
9		GOOD TIMES	2:46	Play
10		WHAT TO SAY	2:50	Play
11		COLD TURKEY	3:47	Play
12		TEARS OF DIAMONDS	4:05	Play
13		BROKEN WING	3:30	Play

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Description

Jerry Castle - guitar, vocals, harmonica
Atsuki Inoue - drums
Neal Kemp - bass, backing vocals


So you say you want a story? Try this one on for size. Virginia native Jerry Castle moved from a rural town called Abingdon to Nashville, TN in 1998. While in Nashville, Jerry worked in the studio and played live shows with former members of Black Crowes, Wilco, Ryan Adams, Hank III, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Unfortunately, his brand of no bullshit straight shooting rock-n-roll had no place on any of the sterile Music City record labels and Jerry realized that it was time for a change. So what's a straight shooting, no bullshit, southerner to do? Move to Hollywood, CA of course. So on Aug 2 2004, Castle loaded everything that he could fit into his van and drove by himself to his new home in Hollywood, CA. Since arriving in Hollywood, Jerry has put together a new backing band and played seven shows, including winning the first round of New York City's MEANY FEST that was held at the world famous CBGB'S nightclub.

Jerry Castle's music hits you like a stout beer. This heavy knock-you-around southerner will drive you to drink, or be the soundtrack for when life drives you to drink. His songs on his current record, "Back Side of Down", embrace the highs and lows of life, and still keep on trucking. Jerry's sound is a combination of rock, Americana, pop, and punk. His songwriting and no whining blue-collar vocal delivery make you believe every single word that he says. Like Bruce Springsteen, had he been born in Virginia instead of New Jersey, Castle sings forcefully about wily women, lost opportunity, and desperately trying to turn things around. Since releasing "Back Side of Down" in March of 2004, Jerry has sold over 900 copies and completed one half of his next record that is tentatively called "Bonehead". Major cities that Jerry Castle & The Stride have played, in support of "Back Side of Down", includes Los Angeles, CA, New York City, NY, Nashville, TN, Atlanta, GA, and St. Louis, MO. In addition, Jerry Castle & The Stride has played several smaller markets in South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Orange County California.

The bulk of "Back Side of Down" was recorded during October 2003, however, the record actually began as a 3-song demo back in February of the same year. 3-time Grammy winner Warren Riker (The Fugees, Lauryn Hill, Santana) produced mixed and engineered the 3 songs. When asked why he agreed to work with an unsigned artist Riker stated, "No doubt it's the songs. Most writers in the roots rock vein of music are one dimensional, Jerry is a very multidimensional songwriter." There is never a moment on one of the thirteen tracks on "Back Side of Down" that you are let down. From the rowdy hard-rocking opening track "Guilty" to the eloquent sparse but lush closing track "Broken Wing" the record "Brings the Magic" at all times.

The new lineup of Jerry Castle and the Stride includes drummer Atsuki Inoue from Tokyo, Japan, who is a graduate of MI, and California native Neal Kemp on bass. If you think that a 3-piece band can't have a full sound, you're going to have to hear these guys and you'll soon think differently.

Even though Jerry Castle first put his name out front in 2003, he is no new comer to the music scene. He spent four years fronting the popular Virginia jam band TOAST and three years fronting the hard rock band THE WORLD OUTSIDE. While with TOAST, Jerry released two full-length records, 1997's "Game Called Life" and 1999's "Simple Pleasures"; the two records sold a combined 4000 copies. The support of these two records carried Jerry to colleges and clubs throughout all of the Southeast United States. In 2000 Jerry formed THE WORLD OUTSIDE and in 2002 Jerry took his band, van, trailer, and home demos to remote regions in the Midwest and Great Plains United States. He played a whopping 264 dates during the year and he sold copies of his home demos in states like Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

Jerry Castle's new record is shaping up to be even more impressive than "Back Side of Down." The style is more aggressive, more rocking, and less roots rock. In light of the fact that Jerry now calls Hollywood, CA home, this should be a strength that works to his advantage.