by David Von Bader
Neal Casal is a man of many hats. A prolific and fully realized
recording artist in his own right, Casal has released a steady flow of
his own albums since the early '90s, worked with artists like Tift
Merritt and Willie Nelson, and has released a book of his photography,
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: A View of Other Windows, documenting the time he spent in his most recognizable role as band mate to the alternative country superhero.
The
New Jersey born Casal recently found himself playing the role of
sideman once again, this time as a member of the Chris Robinson
Brotherhood, a band that displays both Casal and the former Black Crowes
frontman's neo-hippie sonic tendencies in a way that is neither
filtered nor abbreviated.
New Times
caught up with Casal during a stop in New Orleans to discuss his life as
a sideman, his photography, and losing pool to Willie Nelson.
