Search - Travis At The Palace, Live at Alexandra Palace on DVD

Travis is great, but the editing is not

Joe Schmoe reviewer | 07/27/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"OK, look. I love this band. If you don't own one of their last three albums, just get one of them. Trust me. Therse guys are great. Now, the DVD review...

This DVD presents their music live and and the band performs very well. I wish the band would have strayed more from the album versions, but the music is excellent. You'll like listening to this DVD. I said "listening" to this DVD. And having said that...

I also have to say this DVD is one of the most distracting editing jobs I've ever seen outside of a bad three minute MTV video.

It is not the band's fault, of course, but I have to be honest... I wanted to kick back and watch a Travis concert. For that purpose, this DVD is quite unsatisfying.

It seems like every single song is great in the audio sense, but visually every song is an annoying collection of one or two second clips... maybe more like half-second clips. It's like this (read the following as fast as you can and you'll get the idea)...

BANG, BANG, BANG... in focus, out of focus, somebody's ear, some kid in the crowd, a pick on a string, a shot from behind the band, another from over there, and over here... look! someone's leg in front of a face, sweat on someone's face! Hey, here comes the guitar solo, cool! I want to see... But what's that?! A hand! Whose han... I think that's the drummer's han... now there's the back of a... the front of... what the... is that... the crowd, some lights. Here's the part where... is that... where Healy... woah, what was that?! There's an eye, there's a guitar with... that's a cymbal and he's... a light! A face! A crowd, another ear! Is that a chin?! It IS a chi... someone's wrist! A face! More lights with some... is that... he... AAHHHHHHH!

I found myself saying, "Enough already! I see that you can splice a thousand camera shots into one song! Yes, it is pefectly synchronized! But can I please just watch someone in the band perform for 10 consecutive seconds?! How about three?! Just give me three consec... Oh, man! Stop! Stop!!!!"

A very impressive computer was used, I'm sure.

But I want to see the BAND perform in concert. Wasn't that the idea?

Anyway. I can't wait for a DVD that has as its priority showing a concert by this fantastic band and not just high tech editing with the band as the soundtrack. Someone dropped the ball on this one.

So I give the BAND 5 stars! I give the editors 0 stars.

Combine those scores and you get... 4 stars. How? Yup, the band is THAT good! Did I tell you I love this band?"

Travis At Their Best

Run Like Hell | 10/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have watched this Dvd, Travis- At the Palace more than 5 times since i bought it a month ago. This is a live concert where Fran Healy sings a list of 22 songs picked from their various albums.

Travis are not only the most down to earth and charitable rock stars ever, they are also the most Real and amazing live performers. This Dvd is a must-have for any Travis fan or even people who liked Travis songs but never got around to buying their albums. Simply put, the songs sound better performed live.

To kick off the show, Happy To Hang Around was the perfect choice. Loud music to warm the crowd up, Travis then sang another two songs, Writing To Reach You and Re-offender before Fran Healy greets the crowd.

One of the best tracks performed is The Beautiful Occupation where Fran gets all sweaty and starts marching when he sings the chorus. His vocals are almost fading sometimes but at the same time it still retains the sincere tonality of his voice.

Your favourite classics from The Man Who such as Driftwood, Turn , Coming Around are all bona fide performances.

The suprise of the night was when Fran got the piano in and played Some Sad Song, a hidden track on 12 memories even though the only song he can play on the piano is that. I really applaud his courage in doing this and he was really consistent and never missed a note.

Since it was christmas time, Travis did a remake of Last Christmas, originally done by George Michael with Santa Claus shaking the bells on stage. And of course, how can Why Does It Always Rain On Me be excluded? It is no doubt the crowd pleaser and everyone was singing along to it. Even though i wasn't there at the concert, i could feel the "thing" that everyone was feeling. singing the song along with Travis.

Damn those lucky people, i bet it was an amazing amazing night.

So if you're a Travis fan, you must own this because it is absolutely stunning and if you don't hate Travis and think they are okay, get it coz it will easily change your mind. Let travis blow you away with sincerity and their down-to-earth performances & personalities."

Amazing concert !!!

Rick Johnstone | USA | 01/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Such a performance, Travis on fire !!!. Great concert. It's a pity this band has been so ignored by the mass media. Neverthless fans know this group is fantastic. Fran's voice is outstanding, as the rest of the band. This is a pleasure, get it now !!!!"