Have you ever gone to see a band for the first time and come away so blown away you bought every CD and DVD by the group you just saw? That's what happened to me when I chanced upon the band Travis in Las Vegas on a Thanksgiving Friday in 2007. Unlike most of my buddies who go to Sin City only to drink, gamble and eat, I like to see a concert whenever I'm in town. Las Vegas has the best venues in the country for seeing live shows, from the MGM Grand Arena (I'll be there June 27th for the Clapton/Winwood extravaganza) to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. There are no luxury boxes taking up prime real estate and you don't have to worry about parking. Plus its nice to get away from the tables and slots for a few hours.
On that cold November night I decided at the last minute to walk over to the Hard Rock Casino to see a band I knew very little about. Part of the appeal was the $30 ticket-much cheaper than the Elvis or Beatles tribute shows I was considering-and part of it was The Joint at the Hard Rock, a wonderful place to see a show. After buying a ticket I ended up winning $50 playing deuces wild on a video poker machine while waiting for show time. I had a feeling it was going to be a great evening.
It turned out I was wrong. "Great" does not even begin to describe the performance I saw that night. The show opened with the "Rocky" theme blaring from the PA system. A spotlight hit the crowd and I turned to see the band jogging through the audience while "high-fiving" the members, including myself. When Travis made it to the stage they ripped off their faux-boxing apparel and tore into the song "Selfish Jean." First time a band had won me over before they even played a note!
The show that followed had me mesmerized by some songs that I recognized ("Writing to Reach You,""Why Does It Always Rain On Me") and a tune that instantly became one of my all time favorites: "Driftwood." Throughout the evening lead singer Fran Healey told amusing and touching little stories before singing the shit out of every number on the set list. I immediately identified with fellow bassist Dougie Payne who was the epitome of rock and roll cool, swaying to the beat while grinning at the crowd. Guitarist Andy Dunlop stood on top of his amp during his solo on "All I Wanna Do Is Rock" while drummer Neil Primrose never missed a beat.
By the end of the show I was at the lip of the stage acting like a teenager at his first concert. When the band gathered to perform an all-acoustic "Flowers In The Window" I was singing along to a song I'd never heard before and when it was over I practically skipped back to my hotel room. It had been so long since I'd been blown away by a band I'd never seen before and in the following weeks I discovered it wasn't a fluke. Travis has put together an impressive catalogue of albums that I never get tired of and their two in-concert DVDs always amaze those friends of mine who know nothing about this quartet from Scotland.
So that's the big question. Here's a band that's had huge success in Europe with monster singles like "Sing" and "Turn" and CDs like "The Man Who" winning Best Album at the 2000 BRIT awards. So why haven't they found success in the USA? Well they have if one considers their live shows. Travis has a loyal following in the States and can draw at least a couple thousand fans wherever they perform. Those fans get to see one of the best live acts in rock and roll, and those fans go out and tell their friends about Travis and bring them to the next show. That's the way it used to be in the music biz-bands built their audience by the strength of their touring chops and the word spread organically. A far cry from the lip-synching pop stars who are here today and gone tomorrow.
It doesn't matter how many records they sell. Travis has been around for a decade and should be around for at least another one. I'm happy to report the band sounds better than ever on their latest tour. I took a friend to the show at The Wiltern Theatre in LA this past April and he couldn't believe the energy coming from the stage and the crowd. Travis had a new album to promote-"Ode To J. Smith-" and though I've never heard one of its songs on the radio, the crowd seemed to know every word. Plus, the band has branched out a bit, especially on the title track which is heavy on synthesized effects and dramatic crescendos. Yet Healey still had time for a lovely solo take on "Sarah" from the new album, showcasing his knack for melancholy sweetness and gorgeous melodies. That's why I own every Travis recording I can get my hands on.
That's why I'm already looking forward to their next show.
Travis has a wonderful, interactive website at www.travisonline.com
Monday, May 18, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
