Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mighty Joe Castro. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mighty Joe , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
As a general rule, I’m always on the lookout for meaningful creative projects. It’s good for the soul.
In my late teens, I became involved in the local Delaware music scene, where I quickly noticed that nearly every sweaty punk show in the local church hall was a benefit to raise money for a non-profit organization. Watching people my own age, from my own town, lending their talents to the greater good by turning art into positive action was powerful and inspiring. Over the years, whether it’s donating a piece of collage art to raise money for the Girls and Boys Club of Puerto Rico or organizing and performing at a concert to raise money for NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund, I’ve done my best to remember that talent is a gift and one should honor that gift by using it to benefit the community.
One of the more meaningful projects I’ve worked on came via an event I used to volunteer at called Create-A-Thon. Organized by Richard and Alison Cardona of Hypno Design in New Jersey, Create-A-Thon brings together a small batch of creatives (graphic designers, copy writers, marketers) who donate a solid 24 hour block of time to produce fundraising materials and more for a pre-selected group of 8-10 deserving non-profit organizations.
In 2008, my client was a small grassroots non-profit called America’s Grow-A-Row. Founded by Chip Paillex, the organization was working with a local farmer who gifted a small section of land where volunteers could grow and glean produce which was then donated to local food shelters. They were just getting started and had no branding – just the name and a lot of sweat equity. I met with Chip at 9 am Thursday morning, and liked him straight away. Humble and down-to-earth, his passion for their mission was apparent. And he wasn’t just talk – he was out there in the fields with his hands in the dirt. Inspired, I wanted to create something that the organization would be proud of.
Pulling a marathon all nighter with an insane bunch of artists was intense and inspiring. Fueled by bottomless cups of coffee, loud music and a collective desire to help make the world a better place, we powered straight through until dawn. Bleary eyed and rambling, I met with Chip again the following morning at 9 am and presented not just a new logo, but also letterhead, business cards, stickers and a promotional brochure. Thankfully, he was stoked and thought I’d visually captured the spirit of the organization. After a few minor revisions, I passed the art files onto a local printer who was also donating their time and resources, and the printed brochure, letterhead and business cards arrived at Chip’s office on Monday morning.
Seventeen years later, Grow-A-Row is thriving, utilizing 10,000 volunteers each year to harvest 423 acres from four farm locations, providing fresh produce to feeding organizations. They also work to educate people facing food insecurity on healthy eating habits. And the logo and branding I created is still in use today. In fact every few years, Chip will drop me a random message just to say thanks, Grow-A-Row is a fantastic organization, who’ve made a tangible impact on so many peoples lives. I still back what they do. I’m very proud to have played a small part in their story.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Mighty Joe Castro and I am a visual artist, musician (Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen) and graphic designer based in Pennsylvania.
I was born in New York, but spent the majority of my school years in Delaware, where I played guitar in a number of bands such as The Situation (Elephant Stone Records) and Nero/OPF. I studied graphic design at Drexel University in Philadelphia. After graduating, I spent 9 years as the art director for Please Touch Museum, the Children’s Museum of Philadelphia, before leaving in 2007 to pursue a freelance career. Since then, I’ve made my living solely as an independent artist, graphic designer and musician. The common thread throughout my work in these various mediums is a deep love for American mid-century design, style and music.
My collage work has been featured in “The Age of Collage: Contemporary Collage in Modern Art” (Gestalten), Esquire, GQ Style, Glamour, Arkitip, The Baffler and on a board series for Element skateboards.My work explores the collision between American nostalgia and contemporary disquiet, using imagery sourced primarily from vintage magazines. Each piece is created entirely by hand—without digital manipulation—and draws influence from Dada, punk aesthetics, and the quiet rebellion found in American folk art. I am a signature member of the National Collage Society.
My current musical project, Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen has been described as sounding like “Buddy Holly if he’d had access to a stack of effects pedals and some Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds records.” Our debut album, “Come On Angels!” was met with critical acclaim, following the 2018 “Wake Up, You’re Rockin’” EP. Our latest album, “Between the Lightning and the Thunder” was released June 6, 2025. We’re known for our energetic live shows and we’ve performed with a diverse range of artists including The Squirrel Nut Zippers, The Heavy Heavy, Skinny Lister, Wayne Hancock, and Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys.
“Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen don’t make music for those that are trying to relive the Golden Age of Rock’ n’ Roll. They’re writing soulful songs for the people who are giving everything that they have to the struggle of living through these times. These are the kinds of songs that Buddy Holly or Johnny Cash might feel obliged to write as a way to answer our collective anxieties.” – Alt 77
“Mighty Joe Castro would fit right in at the Twin Peaks roadhouse. His retro-rock stylings channel the uneasy underbelly of 1950s American life; think equal parts film noir and Chris Isaak…” – John Vettese, WXPN’s The Key.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Supporting independent artists begins in your local community. Start small and shop local. Instead of buying some bland mass produced wall art from amazon or a big box store, check out the local art gallery and pick a one-of-a-kind piece of art, something that represents who YOU are. Because you’re not bland or manufactured either, you too are an edition of one.
Go out to local shows, whether it’s a rock-n-roll band at a club or catch an up and coming comedian or theater production. It blows my mind that people will spend $300, $500 or even $2000 for tickets to some big stadium show, where they’ll watch most of what’s happening on stage via a giant TV screen but they won’t dish out $10 to see a local band in an intimate venue. Don’t wait for someone else to tell you what’s good and what’s not. Think critically for yourself. And buy merch from the local acts you go and see and then tell your friends about them. Local music will change your life. I know because it changed mine. You’ll meet amazing people from your community and will build life long friendships. Everyone benefits.
So turn off the screens and make your way out into the real world. Come on in, the water’s fine.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I really like the excitement of the unknown. As an artist or musician, the growth never ends. There’s no retirement, there’s no winning. There’s only expression. You never know what’s going to happen at the next concert, how the crowd will react or who you’ll meet. Same thing goes for creating visual artwork. The empty page is terrifying but exciting. In many ways, it keeps you young. An artist needs to cultivate the mindset of a child. Keep reminding yourself that you know nothing and continue searching for new ways to express yourself. And it’s not always about being better, it’s about being unique and true to yourself.
But I would say that the friendships I’ve made through my artistic pursuits, whether its other artists, clients, fans or just people whose paths I’ve crossed–that is the most rewarding aspect. Like Joe Strummer said, “Without people, you’re nothing.” I often tell young musicians and artists, at the end of the day, all you’re left with is your work and your relationships so treat both with respect. Be honorable, keep it genuine and stay sincere.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mightyjoecastro.com + https://thegravamen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightyjoecastro + https://www.instagram.com/thegravamen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MightyJoeCastroandtheGravamen/ + https://www.facebook.com/mightyjoecastro/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joecastrobrevoort
- Twitter: nope
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mightyjoecastro
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mightyjoecastro
- Other: substack:
https://mightyjoecastro.substack.combandcamp:
https://mightyjoecastro.bandcamp.com
Image Credits
Photographer credits are in the image titles if applicable.