Ken Woods And The Old Blue Gang Turn Grit Into Gold With Their Explosive New Track "Ride The Rails"

 Photos provided by: Barry Morris

By: Staff

Gritty, spellbinding, and wildly cinematic—this is storytelling at its most powerful.

“During the year 1893 a time of great economic depression, a great deal of agitation against the Chinese arose – it being felt, particularly by the unemployed, that the Chinese were taking work away from the whites. On 24 September of that year a great mob of men visited Chinatown burning and plundering and peremptorily ordered the out numbered Chinese to take themselves out of the community. Some of them left on the next train, but a greater number moved to a temporary camp up the Grande Ronde River. This did not satisfy the mob however, and the next day the camp was visited and broken up. The Chinese were marched back to La Grande where they were placed forcibly on an outbound train. Similar violence was shown to Chinese in the Cove region.” From “Oregon Genealogy.”

We found Ken Woods and The Old Blue Gang to be not only creative visionaries but artists whose inspiration is deeply rooted in both the unique and the historical. Their songwriting doesn’t simply reference the past—it resurrects it with striking emotion and purpose. With “Ride the Rails,” they deliver a piece of music that feels rich with meaning, drenched in atmosphere, and crafted with an exceptional level of musicality.

The track opens with the iconic chime of a train bell, followed by the scream of a whistle—an instant transport into a bygone world. What follows is a thunderous burst of drums that hit with cinematic intensity, evoking the raw mechanics and relentless motion of a train surging forward. These percussive elements don’t just create rhythm—they conjure momentum, immersion, and a visceral sense of speed, gripping the listener in a rush of adrenaline and anticipation.

The chiming guitars are executed with a level of restraint and mastery that speaks volumes. Their resonance lingers just long enough to leave a mark, then fades like smoke in the air—perfectly placed, perfectly understated. They don’t demand attention; they command it quietly, serving the song’s atmosphere with haunting elegance.

What follows is the heart of the track: a vocal performance that’s nothing short of jaw-dropping. Ken Woods’ voice is a force—gritty and grounded, yet warm and magnetic. There’s a rawness to it that feels almost guttural, but it’s balanced by a soulful richness that draws you in and holds you close. It’s the kind of delivery that doesn’t just tell a story—it lives inside it.

And what also stuns is the sheer velocity and precision of his vocal phrasing. Woods moves through dense, vivid lyrics at a breakneck pace without ever sacrificing clarity. Each word is sharp, intentional, and emotionally weighted. The speed of delivery adds intensity, but it’s the conviction behind each line that leaves the deepest impact. This isn’t just technical proficiency—it’s an artist pouring his entire being into the performance. His delivery feels monumental, even orchestral in its ability to swell, crest, and pull you into the current.

The lyrical storytelling is a feat in itself—layered, visual, and emotionally potent. With “Ride the Rails,” Woods doesn’t just write about history—he lets us live it. We follow the footsteps of the forgotten, the desperate, the hopeful. And what elevates it further is how this storytelling is built on real human struggle, transforming historical trauma into something intimate and electric.

If history was always this vivid, we’d trade our textbooks for records. The lyrical construction in “Ride the Rails” is nothing short of remarkable—not just recounting an overlooked moment in time, but reanimating it with urgency, empathy, and fire. Through vivid scenes and razor-sharp phrasing, the song captures the desperation and resilience of those who rode the rails during one of America's most unforgiving eras—migrants chasing survival through uncertainty, danger, and grit. We haven't heard storytelling at this tempo with this much emotional magnitude since “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Yet, this track doesn’t just match that benchmark—it pushes further, offering a more expansive emotional arc, a deeper lyrical excavation, and a broader sonic scope. It connects you to the human struggle behind the history and leaves you not only entertained, but moved.

We were completely blown away by Ride the Rails by Ken Woods and The Old Blue Gang—words hardly do it justice.

Ken Woods and The Old Blue Gang turn a brutal chapter of hate into something defiant and beautiful—proving music’s power to reclaim history with soul and purpose.

Ken Woods & The Old Blue Gang are a Penarth-based trio whose sound channels the soul of classic Americana with a sharp, contemporary edge. Led by American-born frontman Ken Woods, a veteran conductor and cellist with an impressive discography of over 50 albums; the band finds its roots not just in music, but in bold storytelling and historical reflection.

Since relocating to South Wales in 2002, Woods has returned to his guitar-driven beginnings, weaving deeply personal and socially conscious narratives through The Old Blue Gang's music.

Joined by Joe Hoskin on bass and Steve Roberts on drums, the group has become a local live force, earning a reputation for riveting sets at spots like the Penarth Ex Servicemen's Club and the Earl Haig Club. Their upcoming concept album, Silent Spike—out July 4, 2025, dives deep into American history with a sonic palette that blends searing blues riffs, dusty country grooves, and unflinching rock energy. It's a sound born of improvisation and grit, echoing the raw spirit of artists like Hendrix, ZZ Top, Neil Young, Mountain, and The Allman Brothers Band.

The ethos behind The Old Blue Gang is as layered as their sound. Their name reclaims a dark chapter in American lore; the "Old Blue Gang" was originally a band of outlaws linked to the Hells Canyon Massacre. Rather than let the legacy of that name be defined by violence and hate, Woods saw an opportunity for reclamation and redefinition. It’s a bold gesture that mirrors the band’s artistic mission: to not only honor the traditions of roots music but to challenge who gets to own its stories. Through their blend of historical themes, musical freedom, and unfiltered emotion, Ken Woods & The Old Blue Gang aren't just keeping Americana alive; they’re reshaping it.

We found Ken Woods & The Old Blue Gang to be one of the most fearless and creative new acts in the roots rock space—a project where musical mastery meets a powerful sense of purpose.

We’re proud to be part of something that’s transforming a dark chapter of history into something meaningful, alongside Ken Woods and The Old Blue Gang. bringing light and love to it.

You can find this release on any major platform, make sure to playlist, stream and share "Ride The Rails" by Ken Woods And The Old Blue Gang.

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Ride the Rails

©2024 Words and Music by Kenneth Woods

September 24th

In 1893

A terrible depression

Brought despair and poverty

200 angry men

Without a future or a job

Took up guns and torches

And formed a fearsome mob

PRE-CHORUS

And these townsfolk came together

Full of anger and false pride

They marched forth like an army

That made their neighbours terrified

And they said:

CHORUS

“Ride the rails you made

Travel the tracks you laid

If you wanna stay in this here town

There’s a terrible price to be paid

Ride the rails you made

Travel the tracks you laid

If you’re still here tomorrow morning

You’ll wish you hadn’t stayed”

V2

Though the sun had started setting

The streets were lit so bright

The flames in the shops and laundries

Blazed like sunshine in the night

They rounded up the migrants

Drove them to the railroad tracks

And said ‘in the name of the Lord, all aboard

Or at the count of 10 we attack.’

PRE-CHORUS

I hear they burned down all your houses

And plundered all your shops

Despite the screams of women and children

Nothing would make them stop

And they said:

CHORUS

“Ride the rails you made

Travel the tracks you laid

If you wanna stay in this here town

There’s a terrible price to be paid

Ride the rails you made

Travel the tracks you laid

If you’re still here tomorrow morning

You’ll wish you hadn’t stayed”

GUITAR SOLO

PRE-CHORUS

Make your way out of the city

Huddle by the riverside

Hold your children close

Wait for the terror to subside

While they say:

CHORUS

“Ride the rails you made

Travel the tracks you laid

If you wanna stay in this here town

There’s a terrible price to be paid

Ride the rails you made

Travel the tracks you laid

If you’re still here tomorrow morning

You’ll wish you hadn’t stayed”

V3

After everyone had fled

The lawmen came around

Arrested 53 of them sons of bitches

And brought them back to town

And they took them to the courthouse

Brought them all before the law

Charged them all with arson

But their neighbours let them go

PRE-CHORUS

Stay right out of sight

And swallow up your pride

September 24th was the

Day that your dream died

While they said:

CHORUS

“Ride the rails you made

Travel the tracks you laid

If you wanna stay in this here town

There’s a terrible price to be paid

Ride the rails you made

Travel the tracks you laid

If you’re still here tomorrow morning

You’ll wish you hadn’t stayed”

“Now you hear that train a comin’

I think you’d better get on board”