So, if you know me or have ever listened to my radio show...then you know that I'm a silly hopeless romantic and a musical sap.  Therefore, it's only natural that in the late 90's I would fall madly and musically in love with the boys from Glasgow called Travis.  For years I have swayed and swooned to their music...music that I have personally coined "my skipping through a field of daisies" sort of music.  Seriously...I have it bad for Travis...and I'm not ashamed to admit a few things: 

1.) When I was working at www.soundbreak.com (an internet radio station in LA) I nicknamed Dougie (the fabulously sexy and hip gyrating bassist) my very first "imaginary rock star boyfriend"...I'm not kidding you when I say that he's like my indie rock kryptonite...when I see those hips start to sway to and fro...well, suffice to say...I feel like that girl skipping through a field of daisies!

2.)  Years ago, right after graduating from college, I became a flight attendant for a few years and I lived with lots of girls in a big house in New Jersey...for some reason we named all of our plants after soap opera stars...however, as the years went by and I left the friendly skies to get back to my roots as an indie rock DJ...I started naming my plants after my favorite indie artists.  Given my current career and locale changes...as you can imagine...there is only plant that has stuck it out with me over the years...he is currently in my kitchen window sill...alive and well...and yes, you guessed it...his name is Travis. 

I only share these embarrassing factoids to help you to understand how deep my feelings are for Travis.  This is not just a fleeting school girl crush...Travis have become my musical kindred spirits and many times throughout the years...the soundtrack to my life.

But aside from all my sappy nonsense...at the end of the day, I'm a radio professional...so, I know how to keep it together when in the presence of one of my all time favorite bands...and I've had the pleasure of interviewing Travis several times during my career...one such time was yesterday...just after their sound check at the 9:30 Club.  I happily sat down with Fran and Dougie and we laughed and chatted and they told me a few things that, if you're a fan, you might find interesting.  Here are some highlights from our conversation...

1.)  Dougie's favorite album of the moment is Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga from Spoon...not that this surprises me...the new album rules!
2.)  They're planning to let their good friend Nigel Godrich make videos for all of the songs from their new record...much like he did for Beck's latest effort...and the boys from Travis are going to enlist the help of some of their friends (famous or otherwise) to make said videos.  (By the way...if you weren't at their show last night at the 9:30 Club...Nigel is on tour with them as a sort of holiday!)
3.)  They filmed the video for "Closer" at a little grocery store in Eagle Rock, California with their mate Ben Stiller while the store was still open...needless to say, there were a lot of confused shoppers when Ben acted as store manager.
4.)  After this tour they're going to Europe, but they said they'd come back to do another tour of the states...so, if you missed them this time around...you'll probably have another chance.  Of course, I HIGHLY recommend their live show...it's stellar!  Let me put it this way...Fran asked the entire 9:30 Club to pogo up and down in unison to "Why Does It Always Rain On Me"...and we all did it...just because he asked :)  And believe me...the DC indie crowd never bounces in unison...EVER!
5.)  The next video they're going to make is for my personal favorite song on the record called "My Eyes"...needless to say, I'm stoked.

If you have XM radio...you can hear my entire chat with Fran and Dougie during my show, "The XMU Afterschool Special." I'm on the air Monday - Friday from 4 pm to 10 pm ET...but the interview will air this Friday (tomorrow) at 8 pm ET on XMU - Channel 43.

xoxo...tobi : )