Named for a suburb of Austin Texas, but really a band from Dublin, Travis Oaks recently visited London, and we went to see them at The Workshop, Shoreditch. The band had played several gigs while in town, and this was their final show before returning home.
Travis Oaks are truly committed to their art. The band, whose music is a lively fusion of rhythm’n’blues and good ol’ rock’n’roll, live together in Dublin, giving them the opportunity to write and jam when inspiration hits. With Michael Paterson on Rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Taran Plouzane taking Lead guitar and backing vocals, Aran McGillick on Bass guitar and backing vocals and Killian McCourt on Drums, the Band is as rock and roll as you can get – all long hair and loud guitars. The Workshop is an intimate venue, which meant it felt a bit crowded, but there was enough room for people to dance while also leaving enough space to sit on stools at the bar.
We’d not listened to Travis Oaks before we saw them live, so we had no idea what to expect. They played six songs, with Mike and Taran letting their hair rock as much as they did. Somewhere down the line Killian went all Keith Moon on us and lost his shirt; this is the best photo we were able to get when he wasn’t a blur of sticks:
Our favourite song of the night was ‘Slow Burner’, which we believe will be on their new album, recorded in Dublin’s famous Windmill Studios, and is due for release in January. Travis Oaks are about to set off on tour in France, but you can catch them online on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Soundcloud.
Check out ‘Last Love Song’, released last year:
