Travis at Summit Denver

As the band Travis’ Denver concert was approaching, I was honestly surprised that many of my friends had not heard of them. True to form, I love a band who is much bigger in Europe than they are here, but I distinctly remember Travis being all over the radio in the 90s/00s here in the U.S. too. By the way, there are no people named Travis in the band – it comes from the character Travis Henderson (played by Harry Dean Stanton) in the film Paris, Texas (1984).

This Scottish band broke through with their 1999 album The Man Who, featuring the huge hit “Why Does It Always Rain on Me?” – which they closed the show with this time around. I was able to see them once before, in 2009, and capture some lovely moments on whatever cell phone I had at the time, like when frontman Fran Healy came out into the crowd to sing another big hit, “Falling Down.”

This time around, with a new EP and Fran having sprained his ankle, Travis still knows how to put on a show. As you can see by the photos below, the lighting complimented Fran’s new hair too! The setlist was a wonderful mix of all my favorite Travis hits, the new music, and a special performance of “The Beautiful Occupation” – which they had not played in almost 20 years but a fan was very insistent to hear. Fran Healy’s storytelling between songs added a personal touch, making the concert feel like a gathering of old friends.

Whether you’re a longtime listener or just discovering them, one thing is clear — Travis is a band that knows how to weather the years with style and sincerity. This summer, the band is hitting the U.K. festival circuit. Everyone there will definitely be excited to see them again, I am sure!

Travis – Denver Concert Photos

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