Travis Open Their 'Eyes' on New Album

Scottish rockers Travis recently wrapped up their upcoming album, 'A Boy With No Name,' and are now making their way around the States to showcase their newest set of songs. "We haven't done a show in America for about three years, so it's just great to be back," vocalist Fran Healy told Spinner. Healy singled out a couple of the new tunes that the band has especially enjoyed playing out live. "'Eyes Wide Open' is really nice, because it's quite easy to play and it's really powerful," he said. "'Selfish Jean' -- I like that sort of Martha and the Vandellas beat that goes with it."

The band members recently made a stop in L.A., where they had the distinction of being guests at radio station KCRW's annual 'Sounds Eclectic Evening' concert. While this year's bill also featured the Shins, a show-stealing set from Rodrigo y Gabriela and L.A.'s own Cold War Kids, Travis' Dougie Payne was totally caught off guard by the scope of the show, which was held at the 6,000-seat Universal Amphitheatre. "Dougie thought it was going to be, like, a hundred people," said Healy. Payne elaborates, saying, "We arrived at the airport today and the driver was like, 'So we're going to the Universal Amphitheatre.' And I was like, 'What? Oh.' "

All told, though, the return to America was a memorable one for Travis, and they were especially blown away by one of the other acts that performed at the KCRW show. "It was quite nerve-wracking going on after Rodrigo y Gabriela, 'cause they were amazing," Healy said. "I was just going up that upstairs stairway thinking, 'The only way we could've done it is if we'd have gone out without wearing any trousers or underwear.'"