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.

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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.