Brian Travis (acoustic guitar/harmonica/lead vocals), Jason Gonzales (lead guitar/ vox), Matt Brown (keys, additional Percussion and vox) Mark Wickliff (drums / vox) Steve Weil (bass) / UK rythem section: Thaddeus Wiseman (drums) & Manny Vega(bass).
Influences
All things rootsy & organic. Acoustic & electric. Folk & Punk.
On the folk-rock side: Niel Young. Bob Dylan. Tom Petty. The Alarm. The Indigo Girls. John Denver. Johnny Cash. Nick Drake.
On the pure rock side: Blind Melon. Oasis. David Bowie. Queen. Janes Addiction. The Clash. The Beatles. The Stones. Led Zep. Pink Floyd. The Kinks.
California Rock and Brit Rock mashed together with lyrics that actually have purpose, message and meaning. Guitar driven anti-folk with a vocalist that sounds like a mixture of Tom Petty and Placebo.
After completing a number of independent tours up and down the California coast, The Brian Travis Band stormed the UK playing numerous dates in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland prior to releasing their debut CD, “Past The Breakers” in 2004.
The UK touring culminated in a support slot for welsh folk-rockers, The Alarm that put Brian Travis on stage performing alongside Mike Peters, JJ Gilmore of The Silencers and Bruce Watson of Big Country during the encore in front of legions of new fans.
The group are currently based in Los Angeles and frequently play The Hotel Café, Molly Malones and The Silverlake Lounge, however the band have spent a lot of time in Northern California and have also written, recorded, and performed a great deal of music in Santa Barbara, most recently working with Americana producer, Cyrus Clarke on a collection of forthcoming acoustic material bearing the title, “Sense Of Place”.
KCSN has debuted advance cuts from the forthcoming acoustic effort in early August, and Santa Barbara college radio stations have also been spinning tracks.
It’s a good thing that summertime in California seems to last all year long. Without such temperate weather, Brian Travis, the bandleader and one of three songwriters for The Brian Travis Band, might not be inspired to compose the laid back, warm, soaring California melodies that he does. The California influence doesn’t stop there either. The “high lonesome’’ lap steel playing of Jason “Ace” Gonzalez conjures up images of the setting sun in the west coast desert juxtaposed against the tension and release of LA rush hour gridlock. The rest of the band, showcasing 5 singers and a majestic, classic rock influenced pianist (who seems to be able to play any song you can think of at the drop of a hat) are as interconnected as the moon and tide, waxing and waning as one entity.
The group perform both acoustic and electric, as comfortable using 100% acoustic instruments such as the upright bass, slide dobro and naked harmony vocals as they are careening across upbeat tempos with guitars crunching thru vintage tube amplifiers.
In a nutshell, they are 5 accomplished musicians that make really good, sincere, heartfelt and engaging rock music…and they all sing. Brian Travis also plays the harmonica at the same time as he plays the guitar. It’s really cool. You should check them out.
For complete details on Brian Travis Band tour dates and other news, check the calendar here or at www.thebriantravisband.com
Please visit www.thebriantravisband.com for all the updated information. It is also worth mentioning that The Brian Travis Band sell t-shirts that are beautiful, soft with a vintage look to them. Such sales help to pay for things like making more music. Tee shirts and CD’s are available at all BTB shows as well as thru www.thebriantravisband.com and CD Baby.
Press:
“Flaunting catchy melodies, tight playing and backing vocals that make the choruses pop up like islands on a relief map, The Brian Travis Band deliver their messages-many of which resonate deeply in the psyche-with conviction and clarity. Brian Travis is a top-notch storyteller and his songs keep a kung fu grip on the listener’s attention while summing up basic truths in an effortlessly entertaining way.”
-The Good Times / Damion Orion
"The main thing that strikes me about The Brian Travis Band is that there is an underlying joy in the music. Even when the subject matter of a song is difficult or sad, there is a joy in the music.”
-Lisa Severson, Minneapolis
" The band is so tight & Brian’s lyrics are really emotional, especially the heartbreaking ’Temporary’. Their new CD is definitely one album that will be on my current rotation."
- Lily, New York
"One of the songs on the Brian Travis Band’s new cd, Past the Breakers, is called ’Perfect Day’. Well, take some excellent songwriting, thoughtful lyrics, and talented musicians and you end up with one perfect CD. And that is a rareity nowadays, as most fans of true blue rock and roll bands can attest. The songs flow perfectly through a varied musical landscale of emotional highs and lows, meaning that your "forward" button on your CD player will get a break. From the resilience of the CD opener, "Defeated", (that makes you want to sing along and jump around) to the dreamy and lovely, "Here In LA" (which SCREAMS to be placed in prominence in a movie or TV show on LA) the CD is like a perfect road trip along a scenic highway. If you need something that helps you take a deep breath reminding you to enjoy life instead of letting the meanies get you down, then this is a must have!”
- Kristen E. Wenzel, Fort Hood, Texas
"I love every song on Past the Breakers. Each one is so different. Catchy, original lyrics that tell stories about love and life. Uplifting rock and roll music that gets your heart pumping and your body dancing. Melodies that you want to keep singing over and over. The Brian Travis Band is poetry in motion!”
-Kathy Gilmore, Encinitas, CA
"Hear this band. See them while you can because soon the cheap seats will be forty bucks. There is not one throw away/filler song on this entire CD. Each song is worth giving ones full attention. Of particular note, Defeated, Gasoline, Here in LA, and Shallow Grave are bound to be crowd favorites. The haunting lyrics of Shallow Grave are brilliantly uncomfortable as they describe internal struggles. Defeated is charismatic, and paradoxically uplifting. Gasoline touches the Phoenix in everyone, and Here in LA shows the bands range and is reminiscent of the Eagles. I recommend this CD to anyone who craves artistic music."
- Christina Nunes, San Francisco, CA
“This is what great music is all about! The Brian Travis Band create soulful, real, and imaginative material the way great music is supposed to be.”
-Corinne Wieben, Santa Barbara, CA
"Socially aware, politically correct and optimistically exuberant, Brian Travis sings about the foibles of society and humanity without wallowing in the negative. Songs like "Temporary", "Gasoline", and "Perfect Day" remind the listener to keep a fresh and positive outlook while traveling the many roads of life. Meanwhile, songs like "Shallow Grave" and "Here In LA" remind us that the material things on Earth are often the least important.
Although the songs have a laid back feel, the music couldn’t be tighter. Travis provides straightforward vocals and steady rhythm guitar enhanced with soulful harmonica. Gonzales is a skillful guitarist, weaving parts of the melody lines and riffs into his leads.
Resembling a young John Lennon or John Denver, Brian Travis projects an organic bravado that reflects his talent. His groovy, earthy, clean cut appearance is bound to make pre-teens swoon and old ladies pinch his stubbly cheeks. Clad in denim and cotton, his shoulder length blond hair swayed and his eyes flashed joyously behind rimmed glasses. All in all, Travis was a ball of energy with infectious enthusiasm.
Experiencing the Brian Travis Band is a lot like breathing clean air while sunshine beats down on your face. The songs are catchy and the players are endearing. Though some critics might slight the material as overly poppy and perky, Travis delivers a full set of wholesome, feel-good music layered with insightful lyrics and tight playing. "
-Jenny Sherwin, Music Connection
"House unquestionably in pocket, Brian rocked with an acoustic version of his full band. Anything but "Defeated", this seasoned pop/rock quartet with a political sensibility and an almost melancholy edge kept an upbeat, uplifting pace complete with tight, infectious mini jams and guitar solo’s that were nothing short of stellar.
My personal favorites included "Wider" and a slightly augmented cover of Dave Sharp’s "Hard Drivin’ Rain", a classic freight train blues shuffle complete with tasty slide guitar solo’s and a barely veiled message or two. Catch them quick at the Rainbow (March 30th) before they go back in to the studio to record! "
-Cyhndi Mora, Night Owl Magazine
The Brian Travis Band - A solid rock act with integrety and a message. ...The material entertains and educates, and connects well with the audience...They skillfully crafted several genres into a sound that was unique. The Brian Travis Band are worth watching, not just for their unique version of rock, but also for the message in the music. It’s a political call to arms that doesn’t just complain about the world, but encourages listeners to do something about it. If people heed that charge, not only will they have a song in their heart, they may also have a vehicle for change."
Bob Leggett - Music Connection Magazine
For booking information please contact: LTS Management Group / P.O. Box 5921 / Playa Del Rey, California 90296 / Phone: 310.821.8380 / Fax: 310.822.5453 / Email:ltsmanagement@yahoo.com
I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)
Best of luck for your show @ Sams! You know i'd be there to support you if I could! Have fun & post lots of pics! When's your Seattle tour? haha Cheers!
I will definitely try. My students have graduation that day. Sunday I know it's weird but as long as I am not wiped out I will get over there. :) Way to go Brian!
Aye up … just to keep you in the loop we are about to change line up shortly we have secured a female vocalist and we are trying out for a new bass player shortly. Stay in touch and let us know what you think as soon as we have the new members up. Its all cool our bass player/vocalist is going on to University… Don’t worry we aint going nowhere haha we will be back shortly … thanks for the support … hope to see you soon at a gig near you
We have a band mobile number now so if your bored and wanna txt us feel free its all cool the number is 07530 487447 its only a pay as you go so if it takes a while for us to respond don’t worry about it
Anyways I wont clog up your message board any more than I have to
ey wutsup =P so uh, i cant wait till u get 'see in you'(?i think its called? be the light i see in u maybe) on ur profile so i can put it on mine =D but yah, one of my fAvOrItE ones of yours♥
If you ever need to record, mix and master or have your disc duplicated, please hit me up. I work for Dinky Music Recording Studios in Corona and they can take very good care of you, giving you quality work for a fraction of what a larger studio would charge. This isn't someone's bedroom, this is a state of the art facility that works with amazing artists every day and tailors their session/orders to their specific needs. I do artist promotion too, Dinky tries to give you the whole package. So if you need anything please let me know!
i only have one best friend an she knows who she is. u think shes gonna come? im tryin to get her to come to jerz for a bit. the east coast is crying out for her lol.
Hey! Aw, No I wasn't able to go... My friend told me about it though..We were going to go..We live in solvang.. haha. I just thought I'd add you guys. chill music :) Hope the show was good!
Please vote for Krysta Nick @ Talented. mauryshow. com They will allow you to vote 100 times per computer and the voting will last until 3:00 AM. Spread the word & tell everyone you know. Thank you so much for your support & have a wonderful day!
I have a teacher thing that night. The next two months are so packed with teacher stuff but I will for sure come see you some time this summer and i'll bring friends too! :)
Hey Brian, Shawn & Kevin from LA's Rock Cover Band Forever Vinyl wants to invite you down to our Open-Mike Nights. We will be hosting Open-Mike the next 3 Wednesdays @ Venice Bistro in Venice (5:30-10pm). It's right on the Venice Boardwalk with tons of foot traffic to hear you. We will also be hosting one every Tues (except May 13) at Aura Rest. & Nightclub in Studio City (8-11pm). This is a large semi-trendy nightclub, large stage, and a great venue. We will provide PA, acoustic guitars, acoustic bass, electric piano, and percussion. Just come on down, sign-in and you'll get to play 2-3 songs (original or covers). This is a great opportunity to play your music, promote shows, sell cds, and network with many other musicians. Spread the word since you're playing there. Thanks Shawn ~ Forever Vinyl
