Travis Dow: The Latest

Follow this link to buy a copy of the new Travis Dow Band album at CDBaby.com. Enjoy some new tunes and help us pay for the thang, all at the same time!

http://cdbaby.com/cd/travisdow2

If'n you hit the Music link to the right, and scroll to the bottom of the page, you can listen in to three tracks from the new Travis Dow Band album. They are "Maybe on Sunday", "Almost", and "Check I.D.". Let us know what ye think!

-Two big newses: The TDB album is frickin' done! We are quite proud,
and want to share it with the World, or failing that, parts of
northeastern Illinois. As soon as I can, I'll have some samples up on the website
and a link to buy a copy from CDBaby.

-I was lucky enough to be cast in the part of Mister Matternot in an
amazing play, called "Still Life With Iris", at the Vittum Theatre in
Chicago. More info here: http://www.vittumtheater.org/. The play is aimed
at young audiences, but manages to hit anybody that sees it. Lots of
school shows, but public performances are at 2pm on the following
Saturdays: 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, and 5/13.

Other shows coming up:

This Thursday 3/16 at 10:30pm is the last chance to see the 'ol improv
show in the Skybox at Second City. It is keen.

Tuesday, 3/21 at 7:30pm sees The Katie Todd Band at Park West in
Chicago, opening for Anna Nalick (she of the "Breathe" song - remember that
one? How is it even possible to cleanse the brain of it?)
Other KTB dates:

4/8 Three Oaks, MI
4/14 Milwaukee, WI
4/15 Madison, WI
http://www.katietodd.com

Don't forget the Neil Finn Tribute Show at Uncommon Ground Coffeehouse
on April 21st from 8-10pm. If you're not familiar with Finn, study
hard:
http://www.frenz.com/neilfinn/

Thanks to Lost Ghost Lounge for a fun show last week at Bar Vertigo.
I'm sore.

The big news is that the new Travis Dow Band album is dangerously close
to completion. I won't be at all stingy with info on getting it once
it's done (within a few weeks).

San Antonio and Austin were fun and enjoyable, respectively. Thanks to
my fellow Folk Alliance performers, Al Rose for finding good eggs
benedict, and Artz Ribs for cooking ribs like it says on the sign. It was 55
degrees and I complained of being cold. Then I came back to Chicago,
where my lips froze to a can of Diet Coke while walking up the jetway.

This Thursday 2/23 at 10:30pm is my first ever improv show at Second
City. Almost guaranteed to at least be interesting.
The skinny:
PROJECT SIX
***Six experiments in improvisation***
Thursdays @ 10:30pm (February 23 – March 16)
Sundays @ 8:00pm (February 26 – March 19)
Donny’s Skybox Theatre
1616 N. Wells St. 4th Floor
Students of Second City's Directing Program present six experiments in improvisation. 42 performers team up with six directors to offer distinct takes on form and content.

Sat. 2/23 the KTB visits Fitzgerald's in Berwyn. It's cozy, it's
ultra-cool, they sell alcohol.

Sat. 3/4 I'll play a set at Benny's on 6th in Racine, WI as part of the
Thoughts For Food Benefit. Show is from 7pm-8:15pm. Patrick Russell
comes along for this one.
More here: http://www.thoughtsforfood.org/

Sun. 3/5 Battleprov at Comedy Sportz. Wacky improv show. 7pm.

Fri., 3/10 - an opening set at Bar Vertigo in Chicago, with my friends
in Lost Ghost Lounge.

Don't forget the Neil Finn Tribute Show at Uncommon Ground Coffeehouse
on April 21st from 8-10pm. If you're not familiar with Finn, allow him
to blow your mind at this location:
http://www.frenz.com/neilfinn/

Warm greetings from Utah,
It's bitter cold and there are lots of celebrities here. Coincidence, or...oh my god, is that Ron Jeremy?!

Got to see my mug on the big screen for the first time today, at the Sundance Film Festival no less. Fantasmical. "Divorce Lemonade" screened right before a film called "Special" starring Michael Rapaport. In a blatantly ironic twist of fate, the first film I was ever involved in was 1995's "Metro", with Eddie Murphy and, you guessed it, Michael Rapaport. Not a good film. But today I actually got to talk to him about the coincidence. He seemed equally eager to forget that "Metro" ever happened. Or just eager to get away from me. I couldn't tell which.
Park City: gorgeous, happenin', quaint. The "happenin'" part is the part I hate, because it means I'll never be able to afford to live anywhere near the place.

And hey, Film Threat has posted a very nice review of the film for you all to peruse:
http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=8604
It's only 7 minutes long, but they're seven glorious bits of time that you'll savor. As of right now, the only way to savor them, however, is to watch the DVD with me, since I only have one copy, and it ain't hitting the Megaplex anytime soon. You might be able to see the whole thing, or parts at least, at the official Sundance website for the film:
http://festival.sundance.org/2006/watch/film.aspx?which=390&category=F

Okay, then. Tomorrow we will ski. Tomorrow night we will apres ski.

Not in a bad way, you understand. Although I have decided, probably wayyy after you had all figured this out, that because of the communication ease that technology brings us, we've turned into a nation of self promoters: each one trying to get the others to come to our shows, buy our stuff, or read our diaries. This of course is not an unhealthy thing, and as probably been going on since Caveman A motioned for Caveman B to come sit by his fire for a spell.
Not unhealthy, that is, as long as we don't all start truly believing that what we're promoting is that all-fired important to anyone but ourselves and the people that might be interested in our brand of insanity.
So I say blog away, promote away, plug away - and I will. But I'll always try to keep in mind that it's all really about making sure that my mother knows what I'm up to.

Having said all that:
Some dates to jot down if you have a datebook and like to jot:

After much ballyhoo and many what-have-you's, I have finalized the date
for the long-delayed Neil Finn Tribute Show at Uncommon Ground.
It will be Friday night, April 21st, sometime between 8-11pm.
If you dig good music and know not about the Neil Finn, I encourage you
to check him out (this is a good site:
http://www.frenz.com/neilfinn/index.html).
As lead singer of both Split Enz and Crowded House, through a solo
career, and with brother Tim as the Finn Brothers, he's been a huge
influence on me and my music since I was but a pup.
If you're interested in playing a tune or two at the tribute, please
let me know...

Other stuff:

1/24-1/27
I'll be in Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival, showcasing a
film that I was in called "Divorce Lemonade", directed by Justin
Hayward.

1/29
Katie Todd Band at the Rave in Milwaukee, WI with Virginia Coalition

2/5
Battleprov show at Comedy Sportz at 3pm

2/10-2/13
Folk Alliance Festival in Austin, TX. I'll be performing throughout the
weekend in the Lilfest Showcase room. There will also be the obligatory
stop in San Antone for the Rodeo and Stock Show.

2/18
Katie Todd Band at Metro in Chicago

2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16
Improv show at Second City, Chicago at 10:30pm

2/25
Katie Todd Band at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, IL

Where will I find time to worry that I don't have enough going on? I
will, don't worry.

Thanks,
Travis

Thanks to those who came out to Uncommon Ground on a frigid Saturday night this past week. I enjoyed being indoors. And playing music.
Still waiting on a date for the Neil Finn Tribute, but I'll let ya know!

...has things that people have written to me, which is nice. I have to look at it once in a while because there is nothing that tells me when someone has written something in it. It's kind of like a real guestbook in that way, I guess. I won't complain.
I went to the rodeo in Las Vegas. Animals were abused by people. People were abused by animals. It seemed like some fun was had by both. Or if not fun, at least activity. As something to do while we're here, it's not bad or good. Anyway, it happened.
I used to do it when I was a teenager, and the culture is something I've never stopped missing. It's almost impossible to reconcile the culture with the cruelty. Kind of like the whole country, I guess.
But I miss it. I used to think I missed it because of the identity it gave me. But now I think it has more to do with a sense of the way people and animals used to interact. Sure, it's a circus version of something that was once vital and necessary, but for some it's the only reminder they'll ever see.
Read about how wolves hunt herds of caribou. What to us may seem cruel and vicious in nature may in fact be an agreement between predator and prey. This is how everything survives. To say there is no feeling behind the way that animals kill may not be true. There is nobility. Rodeo is not noble. But it has 5% of a reminder of something that we have forgotten. And that's more than enough.

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Mine was up there with the best I've had.
I've been working with Adam at Pragma studios, along with bassist extraordinaire Tony Stompanato, finishing up the Travis Dow Band album after a lengthy 2 year process. We start to mix on Thursday of this week, so I'll keep you updated.
Also working on the follow-up to "Someone's Awake", which will be a new album of solo tunes that keep getting weirder as I work on them.
Heading to Vegas in December to see my pa and take in a night of the National Finals Rodeo as well. I'll let you know if I'm asked to sing the anthem.
Take care,
Travis

I'll be playing an opening set on December 17th at Uncommon Ground Coffeehouse in Chicago in support of Al Rose and Doug Hoekstra.
Should be a great night of music!
More info on the Calendar Page.

Here's the schedule of upcoming shows if you'd like to come along:

Sunday, November 13th - Red Line Tap

Monday, November 21st - Kopi Cafe (with John Hasbrouck and Patrick Russell)

Thursday, December 1st - Hideout, as part of Chicago's Finest Hour

More details to come!

Tonight (10/20)!
At Uncommon Ground in Chicago, the First Annual John Denver Tribute Show.
Featuring Travis Dow, with Lester Moore, Will Kruger and more.
8pm-10pm FREE

This is a live version of the brand new song, "Light That Lives", written only a few days before this performance. It was recorded at Uncommon Ground in Chicago on Saturday, October 1st, '05.
Thanks to Rich for the recording and Tony Stompanato for sitting in on the bass.
Here's the link to the broadband stream:
http://www.travisdow.com/audio/TRAVIS_DOW_WITH-Light_That_L-2.m3u

You can also find it here, at the bottom of the page:
http://www.travisdow.com/music.html

This was taped about a year ago on Chicago's own Steve Levy Show. Thanks, Steve!
http://www.stevelevyshow.com/episodes/09/travisdow.wmv

I'll be playing two more shows in October, for a grand total of four...yippee!
October 10th is the House of Blues Back Porch Stage doing Songwriters in the Round, and on the 17th I'll be at Kopi Cafe doing some super kick-back cocktail music...

More info:
House of Blues - http://hob.com/venues/clubvenues/chicago/
Kopi - http://centerstage.net/restaurants/kopi.html

You can now purchase the new album, "Someone's Awake" at CDBaby.com.
Not only are they very nice over there, but they'll get you the disc lickety-split.
Here's the link: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/travisdow
Or click on the link on the BUY page of this site.

Hola,
Due to a booking snafu, the date for the John Denver Tribute show is now Thursday, Oct. 20th, from 8-10pm at Uncommon Ground in Chicago.
Contact me if you're interested in playing a few songs.
Thanks,
Travie D

It's the new website, baby. It's fresh, it's edgy, it's...unfinished.
I'll have much more on here very soon, including links to buy the new album, "Someone's Awake", as well as some older albums and goofy stuff.