Travis, 4/12/09

House of Blues, Las Vegas

A common complaint  rock journalists  receive is that we are biased toward the music we critique. Age, taste and attitude seemingly affect our ability to judge a group fairly, and that’s why we will accuse your favorite band of totally sucking. This concern of personal bias is completely valid considering music writers are in fact human beings, not robots sent to collect set list data.

On that note, I’ll be happy to report the Travis show Easter Night  at the House of Blues Las Vegas is the first concert I’ve witnessed with a completely blank slate. It’s true. I could barely name a single Travis song, had never read any press about them and held zero expectations for the handsome Scottish dudes.

In front of a moody and textured curtain and beautiful metallic gong, Travis regaled us with handfuls of gorgeous songs like “Closer,” “Love Will Come Through” and “Something Anything,” lead singer and guitarist Fran Healy guiding his band along a set list that garnered smile after smile as the audience cooed their favorite verses. The performance immediately felt too perfect, as Travis’ execution of “Long Way Down” and “Side” transcended the theater space and immediately began seeding in my memory.

During “Falling Down,” Healy jumped into the audience, parting the mature seas and grabbing one lucky lady to slow dance with as he continued to sing, not missing a note. He stopped and started a song or two due to forgotten lyrics, including letting out a Freudian slip about how his “balls were on fire” but his endearing nature made the minor flubs work perfectly with the band’s pleasing onstage stance.

 Healy’s cordial glances and witty quips between ‘My Eyes” and “Turn” made the warm, sleepy Gothic feel small and intimate as the seamless sound system brought his gruff and gentle vocals through clean and clear. I fell in love with bass player Douglas Payne’s drowsy swagger, and I know it wasn’t just the Red Bull & Vodka talking; he and the rest of the band held the enamored crowd in their hands as Travis performed a perfect set.

The encore brought  Healy back to the stage alone and utilizing only his guitar and microphone-absent voice, he floored us with “20,”  The band mesmerized the audience with a rousing version Slideshow” and “Blue Flashing Light” before leaving their instruments to form a hugging line of shoulders to sing “Flowers in the Window.” A chummy bow followed and Travis gracefully left the stage.

Having zero expectations for a band’s live show is the best way to approach a review. I’m going to stop listening to, thinking about and writing about music, quit tirelessly scouring the Internet for new downloads and obscure releases and stop reading those old rags like Spin and Paste. That way I can go to every show without knowing anything about a band. I just hope every band will be exactly like Travis.

Travis, “Waiting to Reach You” Live @ HOB, VEGAS

Watch “Waiting To Reach You” TRAVIS–4/12/09@HOB, LAS VEGAS in Music  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Watch the encore of “Flowers In The Window”

Watch Travis-House of Blues, Vegas in Music  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com