For Alan Castillejos, there’s a certain energy that he always gets when he’s playing in front of a crowd.
Whether it’s 30-40 people that are listening or even just one person, the longtime Odessan guitarist always enjoys getting to perform live to anyone that’s listening.
He’ll be back at the Odessa Marriott and Hotel Conference Center this weekend when he performs as this week’s musician at Music at the Marriott.
Castillejos plays from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday at the Marriott.
The event is free and open to the public.
It’ll be his second time performing with Music at the Marriott.
“Honestly, it feels pretty good,” Castillejos said. “I enjoy playing music, no matter who’s listening. When somebody comes up to you at the end of a performance and says, ‘man I really enjoyed your music and I hope that you’re back here,’ it means something more. Music can make people feel things in different ways. However that makes people feel, whether it’s good, happy or nostalgic, it gives me a sense that I’m reaching out to somebody. It’s nice to hear that and that they like me enough to come back and perform.”
Aside from the last time Castillejos played at Music at the Marriott, he’s also performed live at other events including last month’s Dancing with the West Texas Stars at the Ector Theatre as well as Odessa’s Got Talent back in 2021.
Castillejos graduated from Permian High School back in 2009. He’s lived in Odessa his entire life, with the exception of the four years of college at Trinity University where he majored in neuroscience.
He works as a physical therapist assistant at Phytex Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Associates.
However, when he’s not at work, or when he’s unwinding from the day, Castillejos says he likes to play.
He plays primarily guitar but he can also play the harmonica, piano, drums, ukulele and bass as well as sing.
He says his style of music ranges all over the place.
“I kind of take my style of music from whatever I like,” Castillejos said. “I’ve listened to everything growing up from classical music to hardcore rock to death metal to rap. I pulled all that together and find songs that I like. I just play songs that I like to hear and hopefully other people like to hear. I also pride myself on playing what people want to hear. If they come up and want to hear a certain song or artist, I try to play something that hopefully sounds good to them.”
However, two songs that he gets requested a bunch are The Eagles’ “Hotel California” and “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Lately, he’s been playing a bunch of country songs as well.
“These last few months, I’ve been playing this newer country that everyone is in to like Morgan Wallen or Parker McCollum,” Castillejos said. “I get requests for Texas country. People like to listen to that and I like those songs too. I don’t mind picking one up and playing.”
It’s not just cover songs that Castillejos performs as he also writes his own music.
“I have about a dozen songs that I’ve written,” Castillejos said. “I sprinkle my own songs in cover songs. People want to hear songs they know and I like playing my own music but I’m there to make people enjoy the music and have a nice time, wherever I’m playing.”
The energy from playing live makes it all worth it for Castillejos.
“I can be dead tired from a week of work and as soon as I get there, the energy of playing live and in front of people is exhilarating and fun,” Castillejos said. “I still get butterflies when I’m playing songs so I enjoy that. I enjoy that feeling and the energy that it gives me. I also like to meet other people. I get to see a lot of people and meet different people. They come up and talk. You never know who’s going to be listening. Some nights, you may have one or two people listening but maybe that one person needed to listen to music. … you just get to know different people and see them in different settings.”
For more information about Music at the Marriott, go to tinyurl.com/8a99rtw7.
If you go
>> What: Music at the Marriott featuring Alan Castillejos.
>> Where: Odessa Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.
>> When: 7:30-10:30 p.m. March 18.
