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THE WEST RD STORY
Sonje Berg [drums]
Luiggi Caicedo [bass]
Travis MacKay [lead guitar]
Martin Schlömer [vocals/guitar]
Two very different, yet very unique musical paths crossed one day in
late October 2000. The Classic Rock and Alternative backgrounds of
singer/guitarist Martin Schlomer and drummer Sonje Berg soon merged and
began creating the sound of West Rd. It was not until the summer of
2003, with the addition of bassist Luiggi Caicedo, did the current sound
of West Rd really begin to form. The addition of lead guitarist Travis
MacKay in the summer of 2004 completed the journey to bring rock back to
its classic roots. With a unique look, and a blend of multiple styles of
music from the past 40 years, west rd is a band that is an immediate
crowd pleaser. Relying heavily on their lyrics, this band offers a
connection to their fans through a multitude of songs. They also offer a
connection to their fans through close relationships and interactions
with the community on and off the stage.
The roots of the band stem to a small loft in the hall by St Augustine
church in Culver City, CA. Martin had just moved out to California to
pursue work in the audio post production market. After teaching MIDI and
Digital Audio at Full Sail in Orlando, Florida he decided he needed a
change of pace. Sonje had just moved back to California from Colorado
where he had recently graduated from the United States Air Force
Academy. They both became members of the parish at St. Augustine and in
the beginning of 2001 began writing their first songs together as a
group...albeit a group of two. Some of the earliest songs (Touched,
Journey's Song, and Questions of Life) are still being played today, and
are some of their more popular tunes. Searching for that elusive third
member proved trying, as the band went through 3 bass players before Luiggi joined the band in the summer of 2003. Once the band had a stable
third member, the music really started to develop into the sound you
hear today. Songs such as "Everything" and "All is Fair" really show how
the band is embracing the classic rock genre and blending that into the
modern rock outlet. This past summer, West Rd added the fourth and final
member of the band. Most songs feature a strong lead guitar, and in
coordination with their strong lyrics, those two elements drive many of
their songs. Some of their most recent material (I Alone and Traveler)
show the unique development of the rock/blues classic rock sounds that
shines through with this band. Throughout the years, the bands
determination and vision is proving to be a successful equation in
developing great music that will stand the test of time.
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