All Travis Wants to Do Is Rock

If you’re Travis, making an entrance through the front of the Electric Factory and weaving your way through an audience is an easy way to stir up some excitement. Simultaneously playing “Gonna Fly Now,” (The “Rocky” Theme) by Bill Conti makes for an even better introduction. Jump up and down on stage with your fists in the air, and you’ve got your Philly fans pulling for you to be good. Show that you’ve got more enthusiasm than your critics pin you for and you’ve won us over. But the build up could have been so much better if they videotaped themselves training in the wilderness and climbing mountains.

As soon as the intro music had served its purpose, Travis jumped into their new romping single “Selfish Jean.” There might not have been a better choice available. (Check out their chuckle-worthy music video of the song, featuring Demetri Martin.) There's a fresh energy present in the song that distinguishes it from any of the other rockers they’ve done in the past. It begins with a drumming rhythm nearly dotted to the “i” in “Lust for Life” by Iggy Pop, and a perfectly snug guitar hook that could be played hundreds of times over provided the same rhythm guitar and bass line were there.

Everything from the band was smooth and cohesive, edgy in the right spots, and melodically lush. Lead singer Francis Healy’s voice sometimes struggled to reach the highest of falsetto notes, occasionally barely scratching the surface of them, but pushed through. The only note he missed all night was, self-admittedly, caused by a burp and furthermore, a tuna sandwich; the laughable act was right in line with the attitude Healy had throughout. The 34-year-old smiled entirely too much, jumped around while striking chords like a 24-year-old, and continuously interacted with the crowd.

After introducing their touring keyboardist, Claus, Healy implored the crowd to heckle him – telling them to point and shout “Claus! Claus!” during his only solo of the night, in one of the only songs he was on stage for all night. To add pressure, Healy, bassist Dougie Payne and guitarist Andy Dunlop gathered around Claus, lunging toward him in rhythm. Everyone on stage seemed to be having just as much fun as the people on the floor.