Dan Castillo is one of Houston’s most prolific and rock and roll
poster artists, illustrating shows for most every venue in town, but
most often Warehouse Live, Meridian and Boondocks. Last fall, under the
paper-thin DJ guise of “Mr. Castillo,” he began a Thursday-night
residency at Boondocks, spinning classic hard rock and newer bands that
still live after midnight and rock till the dawn. It’s the kind of
music you heard coming out of the garage when Dad had old high-school
buddies over, as the trash can started filling with Miller High Life
bottles and the laughter got more boisterous. During a typical Camaro
set, Mr. Castillo throws in a little Scorpions, a dash of Eagles of
Death Metal and maybe even a sprinkle of some Ramones. It’s
jean-jacket, leather-gloved, fist-pumping music, perfect for drinking
at what is increasingly becoming one of Montrose’s stranger dives. A
true hard-rock historian, this year Castillo has spun tributes to
fallen heroes like the Cramps’ Lux Interior and Stooges guitarist Ron
Asheton.
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 3, 2009.