Westbound Train

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 impre...