Tony Castronova

 

Kepp up with Tony here:

www.myspace.com/burneverythingnow

www.myspace.com/bughouserock

 

 

 

It’s probably hard for most drummers to pinpoint the actual time or the event that was the catalyst for their infatuation with such a physical and multi dimensional instrument, but rather a chain of events, and exposure to music in general that starts the need. Tolerant parents that actually facilitate such a brutal sonic bludgeoning of their own senses is a big help, because let’s face it, the earlier a drummer begins to practice the more natural they’re style will sound later. In Tony Castronova’s case, he was in fact exposed to music his whole life. His father Patsy was considered by many to be one of the best vocalists and front men in local music during his day, earning the nickname “hot nuts” for his vibrant and wild stage presence. Tony also assisted his father in his DJ business which allowed him to earn money to build his kits up as a kid, and yes his parents let him smash the Tama like an old chopping block in the basement.

Now that we understand how it all began in the nurturing sense what external forces shaped the young player, or what drummers really impacted Tony as a player and fueled his desire to play. He will always go back to the Buddy Rich concert his father brought him to when he was twelve. What was it that makes him recall this event so clearly?  Tony says it was an intimate setting where he saw a man effortlessly glide through his Ludwig kit, “making it sing”, as well as getting his autograph. I believe Tony seeing a drummer so in control, confident, and enthusiastic even in his old age laid the foundation for a life of music, and most importantly drumming. The rock musicians of that same period when he was really beginning to play that influenced him were: Alex Van Halen, Carmine Appice, Neil Pert, Lars Ulrich, Bill Ward, John Bonham and Dave Lombardo, to name a few. Maybe living near the House of guitars and having access to latest equipment and drum clinics from people like Terry Bozzio may have helped as well?

Today, Tony can show you his bench marks via recordings he has done with several bands that enjoyed success in their day Like Bughouse. Bughouse was a band that Tony ate, rode in a van, and drank with almost daily for seven years. They had two full length albums and released several EP’s as well as demo tapes. During that time period (93-2000) is when he played shows and became friends with Brann Dailor of Lethargy, most recently the drummer of Mastodon. During the recording of the second Bughouse record, Brann stayed in Boston with the band for a week helping tech, drink Jack Daniels and share ideas. In Bughouse’s first jam space, Dave Culross played right down the hall in his band Disgorged. Dave worked at Cadence Music at the time and really showed a lot of Tech and Death Metal approaches to Tony, that were totally ahead of their time. Bughouse played several shows with Tim Yeung’s old band Windbreed. Tim’s feet were fast, even at fifteen and I think many drummers including Tony appreciated seeing Tim play. Tony went on to play in several bands before joining Fallguy in Late 2006 which lost a player and became Burn Everything, a Hardcore/Grindcore/Metal project. Now, Tony is forging a style that is a melding of all previously mentioned and more. This is the most Brutal project he has ever embarked upon, Burn Everything forces Tony to push his creativity, blasts, feet, fills and endurance even further.

To sum up Tony’s abilities is hard because he’s a multi dimensional drummer with layers of fills and style that is so natural. I have been playing on and off with Tony for fifteen tears and he never ceases to amaze me with his choices. He plays what feels right not what is expected, or popular. Tony can grind and he can funk out, hell he can play jazz, so keep watching this sick drummer. (Your friend, Ryan McDonell)

 

 

 

 

 

Tony Castronova Interview:

 

 

 

SD.com:  Explain a little bit about what it was like growing up in Rochester, playing drums. I know that you were fortunate, like myself, to have spent time with a few amazing players: Culross, Dailor, Yeung etc…

TC:  Man…a bit of a challenge. I've always needed drumming to be a part of my life. When I was younger I would practice for hours and hours day after day in my parents basement. My parents always supported me with that. When I first started playing out, Rochester's music scene was pretty strange. Decent but no real loyalty from fans. Later, we started Bughouse, around that time the scene turned fuckin' sick!!! Lethargy, Within, Pigmaster, Fledgling Death, Big Hair, Mungbeandemon, Windbreed, etc… I got to spend quite a bit of time with Brann & Tim, those guys, including Culross, are some of the sickest drummers out there.

SD.com:  When did you start playing drums?

TC:  3rd grade

SD.com:  Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?

TC:  I did play in the school band in grammar school but it was just snare. In High School I actually played the trap kit in the marching band for about 2 weeks. It sucked hard.

SD.com:  Have you ever taken any lessons?
TC:  School lessons when I was in the band… I took lessons at the House of Guitars a little later on, but their drum teacher at the time was a wad. He just wanted me to bring in songs that I wanted to learn and he would break them down for me. Then I figured out that I could just do that shit myself. I also bought a bunch of lesson books and just constantly practiced from them.

SD.com:  Who are your top 5 influences?

TC:  John Bonham, Buddy Rich…My father took me to see him at a really small club when I was like 12, he blew me away, I got his autograph too…it was sweet.  Bill Ward, Danny Carey, Alex Van Halen

SD.com:  Assuming that influences doesn't mean favorites, who are your favorites?

TC:  That's a tough one. I really dig Abe Cunningham…Tim Alexander…Dave Witte…Brann Dailor…Dave Lombardo…Lars Ulrich(of course from the older Metallica days)…Chris Adler. The list could keep going, there's a lot of great drummers out there. I can't leave out Neil Peart he's crazy man.

 

 

SD.com:  Let us know 3 CD's that are in your current rotation

TC:  Burnt by the Sun-"Soundtrack to the Personal Revolution"
        Deftones-"White Pony"
        Van Halen-"Women and Children First"

SD.com:  Do you practice any specific rudiments or combo's regularly?

TC:  I usually practice different arrangements of paradiddles. Accent them differently and incorporate the feet as well. I also like to practice double
stroke rolls, slow to fast and vice versa. I'll usually try to hold them for a while right at the slowest bounce speed of the sticks, thats a great stick
control exercise.

SD.com:  What is your favorite part of your drum kit?

TC:  The whole thing! If I had to single out anything, I would have to say the cymbal arrangement…I finally got it how I want it.

 

 

SD.com:  If you could give one piece of advice to younger drummers, it would be…

TC:  Practice!!!! Push your boundaries, whenever you think you can't do it…try harder and harder, and with persistence it will come.

SD.com:  Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?

TC:  Buddy Rich, that concert I mentioned earlier. He hit that old school 4 piece Ludwig hard, fast and precise. Totally effortless, born with skills.

SD.com:  Aside from drumming, what else do you do with your life?

TC:  I'm a family man now. I work at Nazareth College as a HVAC Mechanic for the first part of the day and play with my two girls for the rest of the day. Having two daughters will pretty much burn up most of your free time. I wouldn't give it up for the world though!!