Travis – Live Review – Leeds O2 Academy

By Graham Clark, December 2024

Rising from the latter end of the Britpop scene, Scottish band Travis broke through with their debut album, Good Feeling, in 1997. Their brand of radio-friendly pop tracks brought the band even greater success with their second album, The Man Who, which spent nine weeks at Number One on the UK Albums Chart in 1999.

The band are currently out on their first UK tour in several years. Apart from the odd festival appearance and supporting The Killers on tour this summer, the opportunity to see the band live has been a rare one.

Opening their tour at the O2 Academy in Leeds with a sold-out show, you might have thought the band had been absent from the live stage for much longer. “With Covid, it seems a long time since we have been able to tour and back up a new album,” said lead singer and guitarist Fran Healy. He, along with the rest of the band, gave the impression that they were genuinely excited to be headlining again.

Introducing the tracks, Healy provided a short commentary on the stories behind the songs, adding a more personal touch to the evening. Two recurring themes, however, stood out throughout the night: death and New York.

“Infectious energy”

The former was evident when ‘Good Feeling’ was dedicated to the video director of the song, and again during ‘Closer’, when Healy asked the audience to light the torches on their phones and hold them up in memory of loved ones they had lost. Rather than feeling morbid, the gesture came across as a celebration and a mark of respect.

‘Naked in New York City’ and the new track ‘Raze the Bar’ saluted the former Black and White Bar in New York City, a drinking den frequented by bands visiting the Big Apple. Both tracks were delivered with infectious energy.

Travis have always had a trick up their sleeve, and tonight was no exception. An acoustic version of the Britney Spears track ‘Baby One More Time’ was reimagined as a stripped-back number with Healy and bassist Dougie Payne.

‘Flowers in the Window’ was another surprise, performed a cappella and showcasing the band’s vocal talents to full effect.

Every band has a song that becomes synonymous with them. In Travis’s case, the track ‘Why Does It Always Rain on Me?’ will forever be their calling card. As Healy encouraged fans to jump during the chorus, it became clear that tonight had been a monsoon of style, quality, and exceptional songwriting.

images: Graham Clark