George Castrinos, leader of the Saint James Band, was destined to play guitar and was born to a life as a musician. When he was 10 years old he recalls seeing a red Gibson resting in the bedroom of his best friend’s older brother, which was strictly off limits. Though the often ill-tempered older brother lay sleeping and rousing him could elicit the most frightening verbal reprimand, Castrinos risked the tirade and stealthily entered the forbidden zone. He knew when he touched the headstock of the guitar that music was what he was meant to do. Rooted in this purpose, the Saint James Band’s debut album Always Be With You runs rich with Americana folk-rock, intricate finger picking, roots-influenced slide guitar, and twangy hard-driven blues. 

In early 2011 Castrinos formed the Saint James Band, where tales of redemption, salvation, forgiveness, and ultimately love became the subjects of his songwriting; a positive outcome from the ashes of a tragic loss. Though Castrinos has been the lead guitarist in many bands, and has played with some of the finest musicians such as Robert Lucas and Larry Taylor of Canned Heat, and Chris Robinson from the Black Crowes, the Saint James Band is the first band in which Castrinos is doing everything himself. Says Castrinos, “It’s the first band that I feel is my very own project.” Joining Castrinos in the Saint James Band are bassist Curran McDowell and drummer Ethan Yeager, both alumni of the prestigious, Boston-based Berkelee College of Music. Most recently, the Saint James Band has played several shows with bands such as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. The latter included George’s daughter Jade, who co-wrote and co-sang their smash hit “Home”. She can also be heard singing with her father on “Sweet Lovely Darling”, the second track on Always Be With You. 

The first single, “Always Be With You,” is the title track to the album, and is accompanied by a video that is a perfect visual encapsulation of the band’s gritty, organic blues rock sound. The video touches on the nostalgia that runs deep in many of us. As an elderly couple quietly lies in bed in each other’s embrace, the husband’s mind wanders to another time when love was young and spontaneous, and the bonds were sewn that would last a lifetime. A variety of couples at various stages of their relationships grace the screen, as a simple reminder that when the right person is by your side, they’ll always be with you. The Saint James Band does their part, too, as they offer up a dynamic performance, first for the camera, but eventually for a chapel full of excited listeners who eagerly swing and sway to the beat so beautifully provided by the Saint James Band.

All of us here at HIP Video Promo are very excited to be working with the Saint James Band and are confident that you will embrace them just as we have. If there is anything we can do here to help get this video into your programming, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can contact Andy Gesner and the HIP Video Promo crew at (732)-613-1779 or email us at info@HIPVideoPromo.com for more info. You can also visit www.SaintJamesBand.com/.

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