Westbound Train Crashes into Ska Scene

In today’s modern age of music, it is difficult to come across a band able to successfully capture the fervor of a ska-reggae-rock combination; a band talented enough to create danceable ska tempos instilled with just a touch of rocksteady beats. For those individuals nodding their heads along in avid agreement, it is finally time to turn off the radio and go check out the ska/rock steady-reggae sensation Westbound Train. Westbound offers that dose of ska/reggae/rock music that would give mainstream ska the kick it needs to successfully embody that old school reggae sound with today’s new age punk-ska.

Westbound Train first debuted in Boston, MA in 2001 and quickly gained recognition through their unique ska-combined-with-rock harmonies. In their 2006 album Transitions, the band combines horn laden tracks and soft bass guitar solos with lyrics which depict the family struggles one must endure while constantly on the road touring and promoting. Lead vocalist and trombonist Obi Fernandez sings with such passion and spirit that his stage presence is hard to ignore. These meaningful lyrics combine with choppy, off-beat rhythms to provide a laidback, makes-you-want-to-sway-back-and-forth atmosphere. This seven-member crew combines the sounds of untraditional rock instruments such as the trumpet, tenor saxophone and organ with more traditional rock‘n’roll sounds including the electric guitar and percussion to produce their own fervent genre of music; one which can only be deemed as funky-reggae-ska infused with jazzy-rock‘n’roll.

It is impressive how Westbound Train, although blatantly labeled a “ska band”, is able to disprove the typical stereotype that ska today is merely a style of dance that some crazy group of adolescents generated from the 1960s reggae music era. Just listen to tracks such as “Please Forgive Me” or “Ain’t Gonna be Easy”, and one will soon come to appreciate the talents of Westbound Train and how as a band these guys are able to pay great tribute to classic reggae while still maintaining a modern third-wave ska resonance. A touch of fresh rock is just another extravagance that one will experience when they listen to the music of Westbound.

Westbound Train’s unique sound and obvious talent has laid a new foundation for 21st century ska music. Take it from one of the masters of ska music himself Lynval Golding, former guitarist of the hit New Wave ska band The Specials, who has said that Westbound Train could one day become “the next ska sensation.” Hopefully it is true that one day, if ska fans are willing enough to broaden their views on the conventional modern day ska/punk/core band, Westbound Train will gain the recognition it deserves as a revolutionizing ska instilled rock band still able to sustain the old spiritual roots of reggae music.

Visit Westbound Train's homepage here.