Past the Breakers / Taste This Moment Records
Recorded in Santa Cruz with Andy Zenczak as engineer, Past the Breakers is the newest offering from Santa-Cruz-escapee-turned-L.A.-success-story Brian Travis.
Travis and band strip their friendly, folky style of rock down to the bare wood, flaunting catchy melodies, tight playing and backing vocals that make the choruses pop up like islands on a relief map. Guitarist Jason Gonzales' leads are showy, but not cheesy, and in spite of some nasal moments, Travis delivers his messages-many of which resonate deeply in the psyche-with conviction and clarity.
A few key lines: "Even when it's bad, it's good to be alive"; "I'll see you in the afterglow where rock and roll lives forever"; "Nothing goes as you expect/No matter which road you select/You gotta buy yourself a toaster if you want a guarantee." Even the painfully wholesome "Crush On Molly"-a tale of one singer's infatuation with another-proves captivating. At the song's conclusion, the object of Travis' desire shoots him down, eliciting the deathless line, "I guess that's why they call it a crush."
"Here in LA" is a perfect choice of closing track, beautifully capturing the dusky, somber mood of sundown in the City of Angels. Lap steel marinated in melancholy-not to mention a catchy verse-colors the narrative. "It's impossible to see exactly what this town is gonna take from me," Travis sings.
One thing L.A. has apparently done to Travis is turn him into a top-notch storyteller; the songs on Past the Breakers keep a kung fu grip on the listener's attention while summing up basic truths in an effortlessly entertaining way. Catch the Brian Travis Band Friday, March 4th at the Aptos Club, where this CD will be available for purchase.
-Damon Orion, Good Times / March 2005
The Globe
17 September 2004
www.distantwarning.co.uk
It was great to catch up with Brian and the band again after about a year since they played my home town of Sheffield. This time out certain logistical details of the tour have been beset by difficulties such as cancelled gigs and bass players being deported back to California, (no fault of his own I hasten to add!) but speaking to Brian before the gig, this obviously hasn't gotten him down. He was in a positive mood and this was reflected by the band's wonderful set.
Already a few gigs into the tour, tonight should have been the first date with the full electric band. However, due to Manny Vega (BTB's bass man) being deep in negotiations with the British Consulate, the band were reduced to a three piece and opted for an acoustic evening.
This did not disappoint and the trio gave it their all. Brian has some talented musicians backing him up, Jason Gonzalez's guitar playing shows a strong catalonian accent and he has mastered the mandolin too. Thaddeus Wiseman pounded the skins like a native Indian, and showed that his guitar skills are as good as his drumming. Brian compliments Jason well on acoustic guitar and adds an extra layer of soul with his harmonica.
Their sound epitomizes the laid back Californian vibe which is juxtaposed with some heart-rendering lyrics, which somehow manage to end on a positive note. My favourite lyrics come from the song 'Trampoline' : "you gotta buy yourself a toaster if you want a guarantee".
- Pauline Woods / Distant Warning, Sheffield, UK
in Wrexham, North Wales was a fantastic success - thanks to all of you who helped to make the bank holiday Alarmstock weekend such an enjoyable event. The Alarmstock weekend featured special guests, JJ Gilmour from the Silencers and Brian Travis from California, both whom were treated to a rousing reception by Alarm fans."
-MPO, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales, UK
The Joint
Los Angeles
Music Connection Magazine
Material: 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.
Musicianship: 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. The rhythm section is equally as good. Turco's bass is more felt than heard, while Wiseman's drums are dynamically tasteful.
Performance: 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.
Summary: 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
Brian rocked with an acoustic version of his full band (Frank on Percussion, Thaddius on drums, Jason on Lead Guitar & backing vocals, Brian on Rhythm guitar and vocals). 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
Brian Travis didn't talk a lot during his set, yet his presence exhuded an air of fun. His songs are pop/rock with a decidedly philosophical bent. The opening tune, 'Temporary' was a prime example. While he was singing about the negative things that we all deal with in life, he wiped it all away with the statement that its good to be alive. The music moved the lyrics along with a spirit that was both comforting and rejoicing in a love of life. He followed with 'Gasoline', a slightly darker exploration of the same theme. His set ended with the Joyous rock tune, 'Crush On Molly' It's one of those tunes I could listen to for a very long time. Brian has a really good band, some great songs, and his set was a pleasure to watch and hear. More please!"
-Charlie White, All Access Magazine Feb 20-March 6th edition.
Cayuga Vault showcase is a Blueprint for success
"...performing at the Cayuga Vault Saturday, Jan. 19, along with Brian Travis' new project Chapter 13. Opener Chapter 13 served up a platter of decent touchy-feely rock songs with well-placed guitar solos a la U2's Edge. Fronted by local singer/songwriter Brian Travis, Chapter 13 is considerably less folksy than his former band Wishcraft, though Travis retains the epic love song element. Travis is best when he teases Santa Cruz's fringe side in 'The Conspiracy Song,' which lists all the various theories--Mark Zepezauer would be hurt. Of course, Travis is really a romantic at heart and his lyrics more often are like, 'She kissed me in the pouring rain on the trampoline/I guess that it was meant to be cold and wet and slippery/up again and down again, I should have seen.' Chapter 13's next gig at the Cayuga Vault is on Feb. 16."
-David Espinoza, Metro Santa Cruz, 1/23/02
WISH CD Review
"Sometimes after an overdose of MTV attitude and pop radio pretension, the most surprising music comes with simple trappings: guitars, strong vocals, and most of all, clear songwriting. Such is the case with Brian Travis' debut effort. From the opening Guitar twang of 'Best in Me' my eyes widened with delight and my ears strained to hold the music. A straight ahead rock, heavy on the vocal duo of Brian Travis and Cynthia Moon. Brian Travis' music isn't punk rock, college rock, alternative rock, indie rock or modern rock. It's just rock, pure and simple, and easily one of the best local releases of the year."
-Rob Pratt, Good Times, 10/5/98
After a few changes in the lineup, Wishcraft is casting good spells
"IT MIGHT seem out of place for a post-Deadhead sunshine 'n' flowers band like Wishcraft to play a dank, smoggy pub like the Aptos Club, but in this town, versatility is your best virtue if you're trying to get a gig. Without any opening acts, the quintet served up two sets Friday (Jan. 12) of what can loosely be called Americana pop that brought the dancing-inclined up to the front and kept Aptos Club regulars in the back. Mr. singer/songwriter harmonica-rockstar man Brian Travis and singer Cynthia Moon make a darling pair, with friendly guy 'n' gal vocal harmonies that could make any KPIG fan squeal for more. Ms. Moon at her best moments reminds me of a young Natalie Merchant and she's got the stage presence to back it up. Of course, some of Wishcraft's tunes sound a bit like Bon Jovi's Dead or Alive days, which can be a good or bad thing--depending on how you feel about Bon Jovi.
Santa Cruz bands always seem to get the short end of the stick when it comes to band names and Wishcraft is no exception. Originally called Third Wish, the band had to change its name after it discovered another band had already trademarked it. Since its inception roughly three years ago, Wishcraft (a much better name anyway) has gone through a few lineup alterations and has solidified with Patti Sirens on bass, Jesse Ray on skins and wah wah pedal-happy Chris Gordon on mandolin. Brian Travis says the band is due for a follow-up to its 1998 six-song debut CD, but the problem is cash flow for recording time. Maybe they can put out a tip jar at their next gig."
-David Espinosa, Metro Santa Cruz, 1/17/01
www.theconnect.com
"...with a repertoure that includes melodic, yet muscular originals with a heady rock backbone, Wishcraft has developed a loyal following, filling local venues whenever they play."
-Timothy McCray, Connection Magazine, 8/15/00
"It must be hard not to want to be a rock star with a name like Brian Travis. Isn't he that guy, you know, who was, like, in that band? The self-described "poetic terrorist" and his band Wishcraft will be playing possibly their last gig of the year at the Poet and the Patriot on Thursday (Nov. 9) before taking a break to write new material. If you like folk-rock and enjoy a good pint now and then, this will no doubt be a good night to catch both together."
-David Espinosa, Metro Santa Cruz, 11/8/00
since 1997 with his no frills, pure rock sound. After playing on cobblestone streets and pubs in Europe with only an unplugged guitar and a message, singer/songwriter/guitarist Brian Travis decided to move Wishcraft in an acoustic direction. This time out, distortion is replaced by mandolin and fiddle, and Cynthia Moon's robust harmonization is bigger and better than ever. With a high-energy danceable folk style, deepened by funk and blues, the music is consistently upbeat, and Brian's surprisingly clear lyricism transcends pop while remaining indebted to its influence."
-Andrea Perkins, Metro Santa Cruz, 3/14/01
"The bad news is that the fall season is spelling the end for at least two Santa Cruz bands: folk-pop rockers Wishcraft played their last gig a couple of weeks back, and greaser punks Riff Raff will go out with a bang this Friday at the Catalyst. The good news is that there are at least three new albums due out by local crews in the next few months."
-David Espinosa, Metro Santa Cruz, 10/17/01
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