#14: Westbound Train

It's quiet down in Boston, and that's a rarity these days

Next up are Westbound Train. I took pictures of them for one of my photo projects last year

Wiki Says: Westbound Train is a ska band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 2001. Their name originates from the Dennis Brown hit song by the same name.

Westbound Train released their first album, Searching for A Melody, in 2003. The band self-released their second album, Five to Two, in 2005, which featured guest appearances from Alex Desert of Hepcat and King Django. The album was re-released by Stomp Records on March 14, 2006.

Westbound Train were featured on the Hellcat Records compilation Give 'Em the Boot IV in November 2004. In January 2006, Hellcat announced that they had signed the band. A third full-length, titled Transitions, was released in September 2006.

Westbound Train played the Summer of Ska tour in the summer of 2006, along with Suburban Legends, Big D and the Kids Table, Voodoo Glow Skulls, and Catch 22. Westbound Train also played the Fall of Ska tour in the fall of 2006, along with Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto, and Suburban Legends.

Lynval Golding, the guitarist of The Specials, is a big Westbound Train fan. Golding can often be seen at Westbound Train concerts in the Seattle, Washington area, even once playing on stage with them and calling them "the next ska sensation."

Discovery: Searching for a Melody (2003)

Five to Two (2005)

Transitions (2006)*

Come and Get It (2009)

*best album

Favorite Songs: 15. Version City Time

14. Travel On

13. I Don't Belong Here

12. Can You Please?

11. There Goes My Girl

10. Salvation

9. My Heart Belongs To You

8. Forever

7. One Day

6. A New Hope

5. Come And Get It

4. Please Forgive Me

3. Good Enough

2. Bigger Things In Mind

1. Cheers! The World's Almost Over (Favorite song all time #47)

Years Active: 2001-Present

Seen Live: 6 times

July 2005- Montclair, NJ

November 2005-Montclair, NJ

July 2006-Asbury Park, NJ

November 2007-Sayerville, NJ

July 2009-Oceanport, NJ

September 2009-Washington, DC

Westbound Train has some of the sweetest love songs I've ever heard. They have some of the best dance songs I've ever heard. Some of the best horns and some of the best vocals. I'm a little surprised at their relatively small popularity amongst the scene. They're certainly one of the best bands I've ever heard and are even better live.

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