Travis/Remy Zero
October 23, 2001
Universal Amphitheater

There just may be no nicer bands on the planet than Travis and Remy Zero, who hosted a packed house at Universal Amphitheater with a warm embrace that Martha Stewart would've been jealous of. The two bands-who've been close friends since first meeting and touring together back in 1999-obviously enjoy each other's company so much that the good feeling just can't help but spill out over the stage and drench the audience. Not that the crowd minded one bit; carried away on a wave of optimism and catchy tunes, a grateful crowd was on its feet and cheering loudly for the majority of each band's set.

Review by Lisa Y. Garibay

Remy Zero delivered powerful evidence that they are one of rock's most underrated and underappreciated acts today, their set on fire with gorgeous numbers from latest record The Golden Hum. Vocalist Cinjun Tate's is blessed with a larynx like no one else, his singing so strong it can bowl over the most skeptical listener when boosted by the talents of bandmates Cedric LeMoyne on bass, guitarists Shelby Tate and Jeffrey Cain, and drummer Gregory Slay.

Travis had the crowd in the palm of its hand from the second singer/songwriter Fran Healy strolled on stage with bandmates Doug Payne (bass), Andy Dunlop (guitars) and Neil Primrose (drums). The uplifting set intertwined tracks from first album Good Feeling, 1999's breakthrough triumph The Man Who and this year's The Invisible Band. And the Scottish lads were in great form, utilizing the expansive space of their sparsely furnished stage as a playground-running laps, climbing over amps and jumping around like guitar-armed kung-fu fighters.

To close out their penultimate show of the tour, an encore featured both bands onstage for a rendition of Bowie's "Heroes" with both Healy and Tate's vocals sharing the spotlight. Travis closed out the evening with "All I Wanna Do is Rock" and "Happy", classic numbers from their first album Good Feeling, and in a burst of energy finished things with their now-legendary cover of AC/DC's "Back in Black". Rock has long been approached with the bite of cynicism, but bands as good as Travis and Remy Zero prove that there really is no need to be totally embittered by life to be able to play rock and roll. And after the past month, it's good to smile.