Listen Up: The Westbound
The Westbound espouses the punk philosophy.
“Just freedom and rebellion,” said singer/bass player Jared Filsinger, 25. “(Being) against anything that’s not the real you. Just being yourself.
“We see ourselves as individuals. So, we’ll be ourselves. We don’t have to be part of some genre or subculture to feel self worth.”
Photo by Michael Donahue
The Westbound: From left, Sam Davidson, Austin Russell and Jared Filsinger.
More Listen Up 
Share and Enjoy 
Added singer/guitarist Austin Russell, 25: “What we’re basically against is any kind of mind control. (We’re) against any kind of forcing a person to think a certain way. If you’re gonna change the way a person thinks, do it by persuasion as opposed to using any physical force.”
The Westbound (the name came from a “Westbound I-40” street sign) recently completed an as yet untitled full-length CD, which is slated to be released in February.
Their songs are “pretty much about people, places, religions,” Filsinger said. “All our stuff is written from a pessimistic point of view.
“We have one called ‘Up in Arms’ people seem to like a lot. It’s about Memphis. Basically how Memphis is a corrupt, violent place.”
“But it’s home at the same time,” said drummer/backup singer Sam Davidson, 25.
Politics figure into some of their songs. “The thing with the political thing is most punk bands are really leftist,” Filsinger said. “Some are extreme right. We’re just kind of in between because we think the whole government in general is (screwed up). You can’t trust any of them.”
They get some song ideas from literature. “I like Nietzsche a lot,” Filsinger said. “One of our songs is inspired by him — ‘Head Strong.’ (It’s) basically just about living your life how you want to.”
As far as love songs, Filsinger said, “We don’t have that many relationship songs. I have one about an ex-girlfriend, but it’s negative.”
Early punk bands, including the Misfits, Ramones and the Cro Mags, were influences, Filsinger said. “That’s what I love about punk back then — it was about artists and musicians and actually doing what made you feel good. Now, most punk bands aren’t punk bands. They’re playing pop. They call themselves ‘pop punk.’ They wear the same clothes and sing about being in love with some girl.”
A real punk band, he said, is “a band that’s not on TV.”
The Westbound played a show last October with their favorite Memphis punk band, Pezz, at Nocturnal, the site of the old Antenna club, which was home to many touring punk bands in the ’80s. “There’s been a few punk bands in Memphis, but none that really stood out like they did,” Filsinger said. “We love aggressive music, lyrics that have some melody.”
“They also didn’t burn out quick,” Russell said. “A lot of punk bands will play six months and then just call it quits. And then you go back and ask them what happened and they don’t really have a good reason why they stopped.”
Asked what he liked about The Westbound, Marvin Stockwell from Pezz said, “They embody the best DIY (do it yourself) ethic. They invited us to play a show with them. They really worked hard to promote the show.
“I see them as part of that next generation of folks who are really working hard to get the word out in the grassroots and get folks out to a show. That’s what initially drew me to the punk scene: punk rock people were doing for themselves. They weren’t waiting for someone to give them permission.”
The Westbound performs at 9 p.m. tonight friday at the Hi-Tone at 1913 Poplar. Cover: $5. To see a video of this band, go to gomemphis.com and click on music.
Listen Up spotlights area performers. Michael Donahue can be reached at 529-2797.
Comments » 2
broketigersfan writes:
how are you going to call them losers? how do you know they arent in college or have degrees? it's judgmental pieces of poo like you they are rebelling against.
telling someone how to live their life, with no facts about their life is the sign of a true loser. that, and youre a UT fan
goatboy writes:
I had the pleasure of playing with these guys on their first show and was really impressed with their energy, songs and the way they commanded attention from the stage. They looked nothing like a band playing its first show. I can assure you they are not "Losers making it up as they go along." I wouldn't just take a few random newspaper quotes (That were probably mined from a two to three hour conversation BTW) and assume it to be the be all end all representation of who these guys are. Then go on to make major assumptions about their educational background when it's not even discussed in the article. That is a foolish thing to do. I know plenty of people with college degrees who are miserable working jobs that they hate meanwhile I have no degree, but a relatively low stress job that pays the bills, and I get to play rock star in a few different bands almost every weekend. I'm not rich but I'm doing exactly what I want to do in life and that is what I believe is the point to this existance we've been given.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.