Someone Still Loves You Travis Morrison
Posted by Val in Concert Reviews, The Yellow Stereo
Roughly one year ago, I trekked up to the Black Cat in Washington, DC to see my favorite band ever (in the universe, twice) reunite for the two shows that topped my year-end list. I have made no bones about how much I adore The Dismemberment Plan to the point that the Pitchfork readers of America have dismissed my continued tolerance and yes, enjoyment of Travis Morrison Hellfighters as inability to let go of the past at best (and flagrant fangirlism at worst.) I’ll admit, that a few months after I said “Pitchfork review be damned!” I deleted Travistan from my Itunes library because it is, in fact, pretty bad. I’ll also admit that I like only select few songs off of All Y’all and don’t listen to the album with anything resembling frequency. However, seeing Travis and his Hellfighters open for Jukebox the Ghost (haven’t talked about them in a week, right?) for the only time on their tour reminded me that the mediocrity of his studio efforts haven’t changed that Morrison can breathe life into a room once he hits the stage. He put on the sort of performance that makes me feel like this isn’t a Cubs’ fan’s long-suffering faith…he is still worth my damn time.
I reviewed Travis Morrison’s CD release show back in September and I gave it a good review but as much of that was by virtue of Travis being the king of banter. I could’ve seriously written a review just saying every funny thing he uttered that night but that would be ignoring that a) the good songs were even better live and b) he got tired and at those points, the set lagged big time. The banter wasn’t as fun but there was really only one lag in the music on Saturday night and that was during All Y’all opener “I’m Not Supposed to Like You (But),” an aptly titled song which very well could be a meta-narrative for how his fans tend to feel about his post-Plan output. But here’s the thing…he played songs like “Saturday Night” and “Song for the Orca” which I have never liked but the Hellfighters have clearly gelled to the point where they can pull together and tighten up the too-loose songs in Travis’ catalog. Songs like “As We Proceed” that are pretty good on the album straight up ruled live. I’m a huge believer in the value of improvement, and I definitely saw it.
Then there was his appearance during the Jukebox the Ghost encore. In between the end of his set and the Jukebox the Ghost encore, Travis had apparently gotten pretty sloshed. At least that’s what he said before asking Ben Thornewill if they could make out and Ben told him that he was a creepy uncle (which is apparently what Morrison told Thornewill that he strives to be for the younger bands he likes in the DC area.) Still not the excessively awesome banter that I’m used to but all was made well once he took the lead on a cover of The Clash’s “Spanish Bombs” and I proceeded to lose my shit. No dignity left. And despite some early sound problems…they killed it.
As for the rest of the Jukebox the Ghost set, they were playing comfortably…and that worked well for them. This may be the most enjoyable time I saw them this year (performance of their lives, included) They were playing for an established fan base and doing what they do best while goofing off between songs while trying not to do excessive introductions to their songs since apparently someone in the DC press gave them flak for that. They were relaxed and they also covered Rage Against the Machine’s “Guerilla Radio” which was simultaneously hilarious and brilliant. This show might well show up on a year-end favorite list, it’s definitely up there as we reach the halfway point of the year.
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I still love Travis Morrison too… Something about the greatness of the Dismemberment Plan will allow me to forgive him for a few more so-so albums before I start holding it against him.
i miss the plan