Travelling back in time with Travis
NEARLY TWO DECADES HAVE GONE BY SINCE TRAVIS DOMINATED THE ALBUM CHARTS WITH THE MAN WHO, AND THEY LOOK LIKE THEY STILL LOVE PLAYING IT, SAYS SIMON MEECHAN
IT’S almost 20 years since Travis topped the charts for 11 weeks with The Man Who.
But the Scottish four-piece’s enthusiasm for their biggest record has not waned in that time, judging by a stand-out performance at Newcastle City Hall on Saturday night.
The fans who braved a snowy and freezing Saturday night to take their seats at City Hall were rewarded with a faultless rendition of The Man Who, in full, followed by a second set featuring the Glasgow group’s other hits, of which there are many.
From the moment Travis hit the first chords of “Writing to Reach You”, the capacity crowd was taken back to 1999 and 2000, when this album become a best-seller and was capped with an appropriately rain-soaked Glastonbury set.
Travis have been playing these songs for two decades, and it shows – in the best way.
Each tune sounded perfect, with Fran Healy’s voice never wavering. The band didn’t look fed-up of playing the tracks either. But why would you, when you’ve written an album which has sold 3m copies, and have enough in your back catalogue to play an entire second set once The Man Who is done with?
For me, the highlight in the show was the same as the album – the segment from Driftwood, into The Last Laugh of Laughter, then Turn and Why Does it Always Rain on Me. Cue standing up, sing-a-longs and warm applause.
This being a retrospective celebration of a classic album, Fran and co were happy to give the audience an insight into their career and how the record came
Travis have been playing these songs for two decades, and it shows – in the best way
about. Anecdotes included supporting Oasis at their peak, and making Liam Gallagher cry.
The ever charming Healy also offered a valuable explanation as to what “Why Does It Always Rain on Me?” is actually about.
Everyone assumes the song is a deep metaphor, a kilted Fran told the crowd, but actually, it’s just about living in Glasgow and dealing with its famously wet weather.
We even got The Man Who’s ‘hidden track’ (remember those?!) ‘Blue Flashing Light,’ but without having to sit through minutes of silence first.
Of course, Travis are more than The Man Who, as was this gig. Before leaving the stage for a short break, Healy told the crowd they were spurning a traditional short encore, for “basically another set”.
Fans were treated to some very early Travis, with Good Feeling, from their debut, harder first album, while All I Want To Do Is Rock was sandwiched between radio-friendly Invisible Band classics Flowers in the Window and Sing, to end a triumphant show.
Thanks, Travis, for the very welcome Christmas trip back to the turn of the Millennium – bonus track and all.