Travis review: Great venue . . shame about the opening act

Published on Friday 26 September 2008 10:15

Travis ** The Picture House IT'S 8.15pm on a Thursday night. For the past two years, the only people you'd be likely to encounter outside 31 Lothian Road at this time of the week are booze-hungry students and office workers enjoying a cigarette.

Now, the pavement outside the former Caley cinema is bustling with music fans; all gathered here to witness the official opening of Edinburgh's new major music venue – The Picture House.

And it's been worth the wait. Following its previous incarnation(s) as a tacky nightclub and half-baked gigging spot, The Picture House looks and feels every inch a top-class music venue. From its stained-glass door windows to its ornate, golden-painted ceilings, its art-deco feel to its lavish balcony-seating areas (1500 people all in), from the friendly welcome received at the door (a rarity at major gig venues) to the excellent acoustics – it's been 4.5 million well spent.

So, who should christen this aesthetically pleasing, spanking brand new Edinburgh venue? Why, a benign, middle-of-the-road band from Glasgow, of course. Idlewild had previously performed at The Picture House's "preview show" last week so, assuming The Proclaimers were out of town or claiming too much money, it seems a bit odd why Travis – hardly renowned for their showmanship and high-energy live performances – should be bestowed such an honour. Whatever the case, the Glaswegian soft-rockers didn't disappoint.

"So, this is the new music venue, then, eh?" says singer, Fran Healy, gazing up at the new surroundings. "I guess that means we have to take our litter home with us. No spitting or peeing in the corners now, everybody."

And so it went, as Travis slouched from one mid-tempo tune to the next. Healy was his usual chirpy self, though, cajoling the audience (who needed no encouragement) into a waltz and, when he really felt rock 'n' roll, jumping off his drummer's bass drum.

Yet if anything felt genuinely uncomfortable, it was the cruel taunting of Swedish keyboard player, Claes Bjorklund. Urging the entire audience to point at poor Claes as if they were "pointing at someone you hate the most" whilst chanting his Christian name, well, the band's keyboarder must be on a hefty salary to suffer such an indignity every night.

Nevertheless, you can't deny Travis are consummate performers who give their fans exactly what they want: Driftwood, Writing To Reach You, and Why Does It Always Rain On Me? all delivered and received with equal passion on both sides of the stage.

And while there's no doubting The Picture House will quickly cement its reputation as a great place for live music, you can't help feel booking an Edinburgh act would have been a more appropriate choice. Try telling Travis fans that, though.