Are You Eastbound?
by Elijah Coleman
Website Exclusive, 2005
Eastbound? No, it isn't the 6:30 train headed to your boring job - it's a punk/pop/emo band from North Jersey that rocked many of music scenester's socks off at their Wyckoff show on Saturday July 30th. Mike (vocals), Alex (guitar), Doug (guitar), Dan (drums), and the newly added Ben (bass) are the amazingly talented kids who make up the ever-so "emotional" rock band Eastbound.
On Saturday, July 30, 2005 Eastbound's performance was flawless. Eastbound is the epitome of what emotional music, pop music, and punk music should sound like. When Mike was crying his lyrics into the microphone with such passion, you had to be heartless not to have "wet" yourself. To forget the roaring yet mellow guitar riffs played by guitarists Alex and Doug is like forgetting how to speak. Also, Dan and his kick-ass beats showed that this white boy has the rhythm it takes to be a drummer. Last but not least, the ripping bass lines laid by the freshman of the band, Ben, suggests that this dude simply eats, sleeps and plays bass.
"Running on forever...forever out of time," screamed Mike into the microphone, with guitarist Alex on back-round vocals. That marked the end of their single "Cracks Winters Night." Fans, myself included, were yelling the words to "Shotgun Massager" as Mike hurled the words into the crowd.
Eastbound's music is an awesome blend of hardcore punk, catchy pop, and melodic emo. Check them out at purevolume.com/eastbound and I'll ask you again, "Are you Eastbound?"