I always live in TRAVIS County

You know that I heart everything about you - "Big Chair"

Yes, Fran, you Wegians are in TRAVIS County tonight…and we welcome you with open arms. I’m still all giddy as I write this blog…I just love these guys! TRAVIS is like a secret addiction of mine. I obsess about them on my own for an intense period of time, then realize its reached an unhealthy level, and quit cold turkey. But after a few months go by, I’ll have a little taste of their music and I fall off the wagon again. Luckily, every once in a while during the obsessive periods, I can share my addiction with my friends…and the weeks leading up to tonights show is a prime example.

I'm already having withdrawals and am listening to my video before we got out the door.

Songs from the new album “The Boy With No Name” that I can't get enough of: “Selfish Jean”, “Closer”, "Big Chair" and the hidden song "Sailing". TRAVIS is one of those bands that I could forget my surroundings and just listen to. Gotta respect lyrics like theirs…Fran and the boys really put their hearts out on their sleeves. And there are subtleties in the music that you wouldn’t catch if you were distracted with other things. Plus you gotta love how they are so down to earth and low key, and after 10 years are so grateful that they still have this gig.

Now about the actual show....

Well all i can say about the opener is that he sucked ass, and had luck on his side when he scored a deal with Capitol Records, because it sure wasn't talent that he had going for him.

As for TRAVIS, I had high expectations based on their 2004 show, and they certainly exceeded them. I was caught off guard by their entrance...the stage hands were up there with big flashlights aimed at the back of the audience. Then all of a sudden there was cheering from the far back and the Rocky theme song came on. It was hard to see them coming through the crowd, but then when they got on stage with the silk boxing robes, I about lost my shit. They hammed it up for about a minute and then jumped straight into Selfish Jean. Unbelievable...and Chris and Sembs missed it.

Their Rocky entrance

Since Megan L. and I got there when the doors opened, we got a great spot up close...and I intentionally chose the left side in front of Dougie Payne, the bassist. He was a main source of entertainment as he would sex up his guitar to pretty much every song. I honestly could've been mesmerized by it during Eyes Wide Open, but Kway and Megan kept laughing in my ear -- it was pretty funny since he'd look right at us and make faces. He actually looked at us a lot, or at least it seemed that way.

See, Dougie is looking right at me.

Unfortunately, the people surrounding us were a bunch of stoned dancing idiots...I've said it before, I'm cursed. This one guy at first was dancing all over the place and annoyingly grazing M.L.'s arm. Then his curly-haired friend was so baked out of her head, she couldn't open her eyes and was singing jibberish not at all resembling the lyrics. And the sweet guys behind her had to put up with her ugly ass grinding in their laps...and they were not sure how to tell her to stop. We gave them sympathetic looks.

Look at those hips go.

But back to the show...aaaaaaaaaaaaamazing. I love how they seamlessly transition from songs like Selfish Jean and Why Does it Always Rain on Me that make you bounce and rock out to songs at the other end of the spectrum like Closer and As You Are that are more serious. This was another one of those great shows where all of the songs I hoped to hear were all played. Since I've been so concentrated on Closer lately, I videoed a large portion of that song...but the file is too big to upload here. :( I just love how Andy makes his guitar sound like a violin...I feel like I'm floating when I hear that song.

Fran is the man.

All 4 of these guys are just so loveable...but Fran takes the cake. He is one of the most genuine men with an incredibly adorable boyish charm. He loves to tell stories and talk candidly with the crowd like we're all buddies, he protected the little 8yr old kid in the front row with some earplugs and charmed us all into chanting at Claus and jumping up and down during Why Does it Always Rain. How could I not walk out of there feeling all warm and gooey inside? He just puts a smile on my face.

During the encore, Dougie and Andy played Fran's guitar for him

Incomplete set list, in an inaccurate order, but these are the ones that count:
Selfish Jean - Turn - Writing to Reach You - Flowers in the Window - All I wanna do is rock - Love will come through - Closer - Big Chair - My Eyes - Sing - As you are - Driftwood - Sailing - Battleships - Eyes Wide Open - Why does is always rain on me - and more.

So if you ever need a feel-good concert, see these guys. They will be a highlight of your year.