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Photo Rachel Jarvis
Chandler Travis and Madge think about the big picture and what it all means. Check out his new CD and you will too. |
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Celebrate big sounds by a big ocean
By Melora B. North
Banner Staff
The Chandler Travis Philharmonic (CTP) has just released a new CD and you’re all invited to a party to celebrate from 7 to 10 p.m. this Saturday at the Beachcomber in Wellfleet. Interestingly enough, the CD is called “Tarnation & Alastair Sim.” Sure, you’re wondering now what that title refers to, but wait till you hear the recording and still haven’t got a clue. That’ll be a scary moment, but keep this thought in your head; it’s an intentional mind game. You see, that’s the whole idea behind the CD, to confuse and tickle the imagination.
“We’re promoting the album as an album that does everything wrong,” says lead singer, bandleader and guitarist Travis. “We want to wake people up and get them to see there are other possibilities.”
That in mind, it’s easy to understand why the disc plays for about an hour and features an astounding 48 songs, some out of the box, others surprisingly traditional in an offbeat sort of way. One song listed on the roster, “I’d Fight Eels For You Baby,” doesn’t even exist, except in someone’s head waiting to be regurgitated and resuscitated.
“I gave myself license to fool around and have fun,” says Travis. “We broke the rule of breaking rules.”
True to form, the CTP is presenting a kooky mix of big band, alternative Dixieland and some comic relief that surprises, delights and brings smiles to listeners whose heads are tripping out from the onslaught of messages, political innuendo and a barrage of sound that lightens the load and invites the listener to turn on to some funky tunes that get the body swaying. And in some cases, to not move at all when the song just stops dead in its tracks, leaving the listener to wonder if the CD has fallen out of the player. Fear not, it hasn’t, it’s just another crazy ploy of Travis’ to get your attention and maybe trick you into thinking you’ve lost your mind in the process.
Showcasing several numbers written by Travis, lyrics by the master demonstrate his unique ability to turn the word and tease a phrase by twisting it into a funky story. Jauntily accompanied by a dynamite band reminiscent of the big bands and Dixieland rolled into one giant ball of explosive thunder, there is no real way to describe the music except to say big, bigger, biggest. The sounds are real and pure, the horn riffs magical and invigorating and the vocals, invitations to sing along and kick off your shoes.
One fun track that includes silly phone message recordings from Travis’ old buddy George Carlin, along with some nutty recitations, reminds one of an Orson Wells announcement of aliens attacking the earth. Eek. You gotta laugh at this guy. He knows how to entertain.
Travis is not the only one who shines on this CD; he is joined by a horde of musicians that can stand alone on their mark. Some local, familiar names are the quirky, cross-dressing Rikki Bates on drums and guitarist Johnny Spampinato from NRBQ. John Styklunas plays bass with Keith Spring (also from NRBQ) on keyboards. Helping to fill out the section are Ramona Silver, Bleu and Dinty Child, who may be partly responsible for this union of song and spirit. You see, several years ago the multi-instrumentalist/singer Child invited Travis to the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge to perform with him. When asked what they needed to improve their act, Travis said, “horns.” And so it began.
The last CD put out by the CTP was “Llama Rhymes” and that was five years ago. So this gigantic compilation of whimsy is long overdue. “It’s a whole bunch of our songs that we’ve recorded that we like,” says Travis. “I wanted to screw around with the format and form. We wanted a different shape.” And they got one.
Travis is an Eastham resident of many years who has accumulated a well-deserved shoe full of sand. But he hasn’t always lived here. Originally from New York, Travis’ family relocated to Connecticut where he basically grew up until heading off for prep school. He then went on to Boston University and started playing parties and clubs with his buddy Steve Shook, with whom he founded the Travis & Shook Band. The pair began racking up jobs and eventually had to hire a manager.
Magic struck when they landed a gig with George Carlin. They toured with the comedian for about 15 years and were the opening act for his show for 10 years. Travis, now 56, went on to found the Incredible Casuals four-piece band, in 1980, and then in 1996 created the Philharmonic, which continues to evolve. Today there is even a smaller version, what Travis refers to as the Philharmonette. Is that really a word? Probably not, but that’s what it’s like when you hang in Travis’ world.
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Jun 7th, 2007