The Scottish band have paved the way for indie-rock music since the 1990s, uniquely blending sounds of British-pop and alternative rock with introspective and emotional lyrics. The quartet, made up of lead vocalist Fran Healy, lead guitarist Andy Dunlop, bassist Dougie Payne, and drummer Neil Primrose, are mid-way through playing across the UK, following their 10th album, L.A. Times. They will also be touring the US and Canada in the new year. The Shepherd’s Bush venue had an intimate and retro vibe, making it perfect for the band to interact with the audience. Travis took full advantage of this in many ways, from holding a fan’s beer, to orchestrating a marriage proposal.
I made my way down to the sold-out show at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on the 13th of December. As everyone anticipated the band’s arrival, Juanita Stein and Hamish Hawk graced the stage, warming the crowd up. Once it was time for Travis’s set to begin, the excitable crowd was fully immersed, singing every song word-for-word, waving their hands side-to-side, and jumping up and down.
Between each song, Travis took the time to tell a short monologue to segway into the next song. There was an emphasis on the importance of individuality, with Fran Healy saying ‘Travis are a weird group, weird is good, you guys are weird’. This created a sense of togetherness in the room. The band also encourages personal connection, and they even had an on-stage marriage proposal before they played “Flowers in the Window” (rest assured, she said yes!). The quartet stood beside each other during the song, and for a segment of the chorus, Dougie Payne and Andy Dunlop were playing Healy’s guitar as he raised his hands to clap along with the crowd, while Neil Primrose was on the tambourine.
The band seem extremely down to earth, with a huge focus on donating to food banks this Christmas. Travis have partnered with Bankuet, a zero-waste foodbank donation platform, with the aim of raising as much money as possible for those who truly need it. Healy even reflected on his own family struggles as a child during the concert. Both before and after the gig, campaigners spread vital information about Bankuet, with the opportunity to donate in person or on the Bankuet website.
Their hit single “Why Does It Always Rain On Me”, from their BRIT award-winning album The Man Who, re-sparked a sense of energy into the audience who leapt to their feet dancing and singing along. Travis encouraged the crowd to jump up and down, and they happily complied. Particularly at a time where phones are so prevalent, being immersed in this gig made me recognise the importance of relationships and music, without the constant dependency on mobile phones. At a gig, it is expected to see phones above heads and eyes glued to the screens, with the purpose of capturing the moment to later look back on. But it was incredible to see the crowd less focused on capturing the moment, and more on living in it.
The talent on stage was thrilling, with a range of instruments being utilised. In particular, during the single “Naked In New York City” off their L.A. Times album, bassist Dougie Payne played the cello and lead guitarist Andy Dunlop was on the keyboards. Their music inflicted an infectious feel-good energy in the west-London venue, with a lady in front of me lying on her partners shoulder, taking it all in.
Overall, this gig was awe-inspiring, with relatable music and interesting stories. Just watching the crowd of fans singing, dancing and hugging each other was extremely moving, and that is thanks to Travis’s immense presence.
Words by Issy Dimauro
Photography (first 4 images) Jamie McMillan
