Sorry it took me so long - set list below, played as written:

-Selfish Jean
-Eyes Wide Open
-Writing to Reach You
-Love Will Come Thru
-Re-Offender
-As You Are
-My Eyes
-Pipe Dreams
-Beautiful Occupation
-Side
-Driftwood
-Good Feeling
-Closer
-Sing
-All I wanna do is Rock
-Turn

E: 20 - Unplugged
E: Flowers in the Window
E: Battleships
E: Why Does it Always Rain on Me?

So, the venue was a bit weird - tiered standing floor with a seated balcony WAY in the back. They used a lot of red lighting for their backdrop, which sucks if you're trying to take pictures.

Met an adorable kid whose excitement made the show even better for me - kinda like Christmas. So, hey to Brian. Glad we met! Another line cutter,but I'm getting used to it out west. Are there no manners here?!?!

What an excellent show! I wasn’t sure how the venue would be as I had never been there before and had heard that it wasn’t the best for sound…but all in all I thought it was pretty good. Hard Rock was great about letting everyone film and take pictures. No problems there. Got a great spot to stand…just to the right of Fran, second row. The guys started right in with Selfish Jean after their entrance, and went on through the set list. At one point Fran said it had been a while since they last were in Vegas. He joked it was because it took them awhile to recover from losing all of their money last time.

Highlights for me were Eyes Wide Open, Side, Sing, AIWDIR and 20 unplugged. The guys are so fun to watch during AIWDIR…you haven’t experienced that song until you hear and see it live. They have so much energy you can’t but help get caught up in it. 20 is such a beautiful song and to hear Fran sing it unplugged was fantastic. I had started filming that one, but unfortunately I didn’t have enough memory in my camera to get very far into the song.

I was excited to hear Good Feeling and of course the Claes piano solo and shouting was great. All but a few thought that he should get paid for the night. ☺

Before they ended the show, Fran said he was casting a spell on everyone so that we would all win gambling after the show. Too bad I lost all of mine before the show. Oh well.

The only thing I was disappointed about was the energy level of the audience. Maybe it’s just me, but I felt like people were kind of subdued. Maybe I’m just comparing it to the Fillmore gig back in May…, which had such an amazing energy level.

Anyway, the guys put on a fantastic show and as usual, put their heart into it. (You gotta love Fran jumping off the drums and Andy climbing up onto the amps.) There is just something about seeing these guys live that tops every other band I’ve seen live. I’ve seen some incredible shows, but really… Travis tops them all. I think it’s not only their great music, but also their way of connecting with the audience, their down to earth personalities, and plain and simple, you can just tell they love doing what they do. And that is one of the many reasons we all love them so. ☺ Thanks guys, looking forward to seeing you again!

The other night I saw one of the best concerts I've seen in this new millennium.
I've been to a few. The Police on my birthday in the summertime was a fantastic show.
In many ways, the performance I took in the night after Thanksgiving was even better.

I was in Las Vegas for my annual visit. I do the long holiday weekend in reverse:
the first 2 days are with bettors and drinkers, and the next two are with the family.
They used to be bettors and drinkers. I'm single and can make my own traditions now.

I won some money betting on two teams I despise (the Cowboys and USC)
and had unusual good luck playing video poker (while watching the games I bet on!) I decided to see
a show on Friday. Instead of Elvis Presley (Trent Carlini) or Monty Python (Spamalot) I froze
while making the 15 minute walk to the Hard Rock Casino.
I went there to see a Scottish band called
TRAVIS.

I might've seen them open for Oasis back in 2000.
I guess I didn't care about the opening act.
Big mistake.
To catch up with the band I bought the new "Boy With No Name" album on iTunes
where I read up on their story:
"Led by the charismatic singer Fran Healy this foursome paved the way for Coldplay!"
In other words, huge in the British Isles, cult following in the States.

That cult was out in force at The Joint, a club worth going to no matter who is playing.
About 1000 fans-many of them Scots-came to see a band that's
never had a hit in the USA. I had no idea what to expect. Travis can get quite mellow on their albums.
So imagine my surprise when the lights went down and the PA blared the "Rocky Theme" and a spotlight
descended upon me! I looked around and the band was standing next to me, wearing colorful boxing robes.
They gave me and other crowd members high-fives on their way to the stage.
Then they threw off the robes and tore into "Selfish Jean" from the new album.
With an intro like that they won over the crowd before they hit a single note.

I thought I was going to see a moody bunch of guys from Glasgow but instead
I saw a good old fashioned rock and roll show in the heart of Sin City.

Guitarist Andy Dunlop stood on the very top of his amp while soloing
on "All I Wanna Do Is Rock." Healy leapt on top of drummer Neil Primrose's kit between
crooning the newer "Closer" and the older "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?"
No doubt the coolest looking guy on stage was Dougie Payne,
singing backup, swaying to the beat, chewing gum and checking out the audience
with his Celtic grin. The quintessential rock and roll bass player.
Fran is the man, however, the quintessential rock and roll lead singer.
Telling a humorous story about going to see Las Vegas magician Lance Burton
and then letting his impassioned voice loose on the UK hits "Turn" and "Sing."

Those songs are both catchy and meaningful, much like "My Eyes"
from the latest album. When Healy told the crowd
he wrote the song after realizing his young son had "my eyes," I bet a few
fathers were getting choked up. The rest of us were happy to sing along
to the insanely catchy chorus.

When Travis came out for the encore with their arms around each other to sing the
rollicking acoustic: "Flowers In The Window" I felt like a welcome visitor at the band's private holiday party.
I can't remember the last time it felt so important to be at the front of the stage.
There's nothing better than discovering a great band
at a concert when I'm not expecting greatness.

Travis is a great band.
They possess the holy trinity of rock: terrific songs, showmanship and musicianship.
Kinda like the Police,
but Sting never high-fived me at the Staples Center.