308 Ghost Train- The Band for The People Who Miss Real Rock
308 Ghost Train is an up-and-coming rock band, with a difference. By Catherine Books
While it would be fair to describe 308 Ghost Train as a reincarnation of the best-loved classic rock bands from the late 60s, 70s, and 80s, based on their sound and musical vibe, Anthony Caruso- the singer, frontrunner and head of the band –is an original and refreshing new force on the rock scene, yet still manages to bring the old-school rock voice back to life, and back into fashion. It’s clear to see why some have crowned him the messiah of the new rock world.
Whilst the name ‘308 Ghost Train’ is a pretty unconventional name for a band, it’s certainly fitting- they’re no ordinary band. While the classic rock sound tolls from each and every song the band produces, the songs’ messages are far from that of their rock-era counterparts, which glorified ‘Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll’. Anthony Caruso, and the sound of 308 Ghost Train, are like whisky and wine; they have improved with age. The wisdom and experience which accompanies the process of getting older, of losing your naïve young feathers, and gaining a strong, mature plumage, is intertwined into all of Caruso’s songs on their EP, ‘Born in the Wild’. The result is: a mature, sophisticated, expertly cultivated EP, in which every song has been immaculately crafted (to perfection, in my opinion).
While the wisdom of age can account for some of the perspective which defines the EP, there is another significant, underlying influence, which serves as Caruso’s inspiration for writing the songs. If you’re an exceptional analyst, you might be able to work it out from the band name.
The ‘Ghost’, referred to in, and sandwiched in the middle of, the band name is the Holy Ghost, and the number 308 refers to a passage in the bible. This passage (John 3:08) describes the Holy Spirit as a force alike the wind, flowing through the world to where it’s most needed. Likewise, the feeling you get from listening to this album, and from the band themselves, is that they want their message-oriented music to flow throughout the world, finding (and helping) the people who need it most.
After winning a POSI Song of the Year award, in the social justice category, Anthony Caruso was inspired to produce this EP. Already an innovator in the music industry, Caruso was intent on creating a whole new genre of rock, which focuses on ensuring that each song has a message which is worth writing a song about, in the hopes that it can help someone, somewhere. Despite this noble aim, when listening to the music you never feel like an agenda, or a message, is being forced on you; Caruso delivers his messages in a subtle, unobtrusive and highly enjoyable way.
Aside from the important messages that 308 Ghost Train propagates, they have an incredible sound. Anthony Caruso’s voice has been compared to that of Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp and John Fogerty, and his voice more than lives up to these big names (dare I say that he might have the edge). His voice is pure, husky, rock goodness.
