Now, Travis have dug deep into their souls and discovered what they want to speak up about.  It's been done before but there are not so many who can make bold statements in an attempt to change the way we think.

It's much more than picking up a guitar and singing for 90 minutes.  It's about going that extra mile and knocking it into the hearts and minds of people.  It's about leaving a feeling of euphoria but also understanding what you've got and what you haven't.  That's something very few live acts are able to evoke.

As with each album, Healy has adopted a different 'image'.  For 12 Memories, he's by-passed the perils of high-brow couture for a modest look.  Hiding his over-grown locks under a cap, he notably appears older too.  Unmissable also is the fact Healy is dressed in a white suit.  Like Lennon.  The colour white (as anyone knows) symbolises peace, purity, innocence and simplicity.  Precisely what Lennon preached about. 

Quite poignantly, when the lights reflect off Healy, he shines like a bright beacon with the rest of the band hidden in the darkness.

When visible, guitarist Andy Dunlop is lost under his scruffy mane, and playing to himself.  Only bassist Dougie Payne and drummer Neil Primose remain evergreen (Payne, as always, swaying his hips in a hypnotic way that leaves me in a trance).

The strain in his face show Healy's desperation to be heard and it's not until half way through the set that bursts of classic Travis tunes 'Turn' the band into a more cheerful and relaxed mood.  Healy daringly runs to the edge of the stage and jumps onto the drummer's platform, Payne's smiles turn to big grins and together with Dunlop, the three twirl themselves around like some spinning-tops.

Dougie and Andy even manage to share a quiet moment together over a beer as Fran takes the solo spot for the start of 'The Humpty Dumpty Love Song', and later, a peck on the cheek during 'All I Wanna Do Is Rock'.  It's not the sort of shockingly lip-locking stuff to make the front page of The Sun, just a sign they're content to let their guard down.

At one point with Fran perched on the edge, Dougie masterfully climbs onto a stack of speakers while at the same time, Andy struggles to make his way up onto his pillar.  Painstakingly slow and careful, with one leg at a time, whilst trying to hold his guitar with one hand and using the other to stablise himself, it's like watching a child learning to crawl.

'Flowers In The Window' is left out, presumably so they don't look like a bunch of soppy old gits banging on about love mixed with world peace, though it is a joy to hear 'Coming Around' and 'Tied To The 90s' while 'Why Does It Always Rain On Me?' is (as usual) buoyantly done with gusto.

The uplifting atmosphere is brought back down to earth with a thud with the political 'Peace The Fuck Out' closing the night.  A plea from Healy to the crowd to stand up and speak out is effectively given a head-start with an announcement that a big, white double-decker bus is parked outside the Academy, with everyone invited to quite literally leave their mark on every visible surface.  Who says Travis go quietly?
(4½/5)

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Photos: Afsheen Shaikh