TRAVIS - Sage, Gateshead - 23rd October 2013

In my mind a venue like Sage Gateshead is usually reserved for high brow classical, jazz and soul acts. Tonight it is host to a Scottish indie band who headlined Glastonbury in 2000. Travis are welcomed by a crowd who probably remember them first time around, and then some.  The Glasgow guys enter a darkened stage and open with the new track ‘Mother’ then into the catchy 2008 track ‘Selfish Jean’.  It is worth noting their new album ‘Where You Stand’ is their first after taking a five year hiatus to ‘become Dads’ according to front man Fran Healy. 

The band throw in classic singles such as ‘Driftwood’ and ‘Side’ between new material reminding the audience of the rainy summer of 2000. The show climaxes with Healy belting out their breakthrough ballad ‘Turn’ demonstrating they have still got it. 

The Scottish four-piece exit stage left but the show isn’t over yet. The crowd erupts as Travis re-emerge and turn off the amps for an unplugged version of ‘Flowers In The Window’ using the Sage’s brilliant sound design, their voices and acoustic guitars. A truly magical performance.  Power is back on as they finish with ’Why Does It always Rain On Me?’ which has a lasting impression with t-shirts reading ‘Is It Because I Lied When I Was 17’ in the lobby. 

In essence a classic performance from an indie band who shouldn’t be invisible. The band who paved the way for today’s acts like Mumford and Sons and Tom Odell. 

Words: Neale McGeever