Westbound Train

108,404 plays
96 SHARES
10 FAVS
13 fans

albums

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- Transitions
- Released 2006

- Come And Get It
- Released 2009

- Searching For A Melody
- Released 2003

- Five To Two
- Released 2006

biography

Boston-based Westbound Train play a modern take on '60s-era reggae and ska with touches of jazz, soul, blues, Motown, and even rock. The septet was originally comprised of Obi Fernandez (vocals/trombone), Jesse Hayes (drums), Cory Williams (guitar), Thad Merritt (bass), Rich Graiko (trumpet), Gideon Blumenthal (keyboards), and Josh Cohen (sax). They released two independent albums, 2002's Searching for a Melody (re-released in 2003 on Megalith) and 2004's Five to Two, before a demo tape made its way into Tim Armstrong's hands at a hometown Transplants show. Armstrong was impressed by the music, soon asking the guys to guest on the forthcoming Transplants album, Haunted Cities.

Westbound Train continued touring and over the years shared stages with bands like the Toasters, Reel Big Fish, the Skatalites, Street Dogs, the Planet Smashers, and more. They also scored a 2005 Boston Music Award nomination for Best World Music Act, the only ska outfit to be given the honor. By early 2006, their friendship with Armstrong had turned into a record deal with his Epitaph imprint, Hellcat Records, and Westbound Train's label debut, Transitions, was issued that September. Williams left the group after sessions for the album were complete to pursue a jazz career, and the band soon welcomed guitarist Johnny DeCarlo into the fold as his replacement. ~ Corey Apar, All Music Guide

news

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- - Donations welcome : )
  - - 9/16/2009
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    - 8:15 AM
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    - Westbound Train's MySpace Blog
  - By popular demand we have been asked to set up a paypal account so people can donate money to us to help "lighten the load" of having our trailer sto…

- - Trailer Stolen! Dates Cancelled : (
  - - 9/8/2009
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    - 7:28 PM
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    - Westbound Train's MySpace Blog
  - Hello everyone, While preparing to leave for our tour, we went to our trailer and found it missing… STOLEN!!! It contained instruments, equipment a…

- - East Coast Dates!!
  - - 8/18/2009
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    - 11:43 AM
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    - Westbound Train's MySpace Blog
  - Westbound Train hits the road to follow up their Vans Warped Tour dates in select cities on the East Coast. Come check out the guys on their final…

- - Mountain View THURSDAY!!!
  - - 8/17/2009
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    - 8:17 AM
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    - Westbound Train's MySpace Blog
  - Westbound Train performing this Thursday 08/20/09 on Vans Warped Tour in Mountain View, CA!!! The last five shows of Warped are this week with all t…

- - Warped Tour Ticket Sales -Time Sensitive
  - - 6/3/2009
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    - 1:42 PM
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    - Westbound Train's MySpace Blog
  - The following markets are offering Warped Tour tickets with NO SERVICE FEESTODAY, Wednesday, June 3rd ONLY. Don't miss out on this great opportunity…

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comments

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- - Westbound Train
  - - By b0b0vetri
    - 9/10/2009 21:24:09
  - My band is playing a gig with them on October 3rd at the vibe lounge in rockefeller center. Im So pumped. We're a ska/punk band called captain diet. check us out at www.myspace.com/captaindiet1
  - 0 out of 1 people
  - think this is useful

- - Come and Get It!
  - - By RudeboyDH
    - 4/22/2009 04:38:32
  - If you like these guys and don't have the new album yet, it is the best to date!!! Go get it now!!!
  - 2 out of 2 people
  - think this is useful

- - .
  - - By UnityDisconnect
    - 10/9/2008 19:26:54
  - These guys are incredible!
    
    Love the sound
  - 1 out of 1 people
  - think this is useful