Artist: Travis Green
Album: A Little Too Late
Label: Self Released
Release Date: 07/08/2016
Green’s statement that he was having trouble finding the right space and players in Austin, of all places, is perplexing, but he, like many, respect Kid Andersen’s production talents. It’s quite impressive how Andersen’s musicians support a singer/songwriter when they usually back blues artists. Green has some bluesy flourishes in his tunes, but is much more roots-rock, country and rockabilly oriented. Green’s voice has a slightly nasal quality, but is eminently listenable in his ten originals, mostly about love and relationships. He elaborates “I wanted the mood of the album to be playful but also serious like in “Damage Done,” which is about asking for forgiveness. I’ve found that I’m most inspired when I’m either beginning a relationship or in the process of ending one. I believe we captured the emotion and feeling I has envisioned for this recording and I couldn’t be happier with the way it came out.”
The title track gets the album off to a rousing start propelled by Andersen’s guitar and the pounding piano of Jim Pugh (most notably of the Robert Cray Band). Green’s favorite song on the record is the beseeching “Please Don’t Cry” where he is joined by Lisa Leuschner on vocals. The soul/blues ballad “The Only One” features Pugh on the B3 organ and straight ahead B.B King-like blues soloing by Andersen. “Keep You Off My Mind” seems like it comes directly from a Mavericks album. “Salt and Sand” is a solid roots-rocker building to several crescendos with Pugh’s stellar B3 support and Andersen’s stinging lines. On some of the other tracks Andersen plays pedal steel too.
Andersen’s Oakland-based Greaseland Studio has become a favorite recording destination for many over the last few years. Green says, “I was little nervous at first because I had never met Kid in person or the band he has put together, and I wasn’t sure if the guys would like the songs I had written. It turns out the band had made up charts already and after recording six songs the first day, I felt that I picked the right studio and Kid had chosen the right players. We only had about a week to record and mix everything, so that first day was a good sign. Also, working with Kid Andersen was easy because he knew what sound I was looking for, plus his attitude and sense of humor kept the mood light and everyone relaxed.”
This a solid, straight-forward energetic record that features plenty of nice familar hooks, some good tunes and showcases the versatility of the players.
-Jim Hynes
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