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We got to the Rolling Stone at 3 p.m.; yet before reaching the place, me and my friend Chiara stopped at a public telephone because she had to call home. And, surprise, while she was talking on the phone, I saw Travis' tourbus passing by !!! You can image our excitement…After that, we went along the street until we found the exact place of the venue, and, just before arriving, we crossed with two men whom I guessed were part of Travis' crew. We basically followed them, but didn't talk to them (not yet, at least). After meeting and chatting a little with some of the people that were already gathered in front of the venue (I've met two girls, I knew in London in the summer 1998), me and my friend saw the two guys again, and decided to go after them. We stopped them in a park, and asked them something about the band. They weren't very disposed to give information, but then they finally said that the band would come in an hour. They were right, in fact, an hour later, like a clockwork, Travis arrived with the tourbus. This was the very first time I approached them so close, and they were extremely nice, beyond any expectation. Dougie was the only one who didn't stop, but got straight into the Rolling Stone. The other three were all kind and patient instead. I had a picture with Fran and…well, you actually don't know how the picture was taken !! My friend took my digital camera and aimed at me and Fran, but when she pulled the bottom down, I realised she had taken a picture of herself, because the camera was turned in her direction !!! I let her notice, and Fran burst out laughing !!! The next photo came better, anyway. After that I stopped Andy and told him he's great, which I think he must have appreciated, because he pulled his thumb up in sign of approval and said "You're welcome !" The venue opened at 7 p.m. and I got the first row. The Travis' show started at 9 p.m. (after a performance of the Turin Brakes), and it was superb. I was deeply touched, and the songs took my breath away (click here for the setlist). The band were very talkative, unpersonal and humble…The audience seemed to appreciate, and the feedback was perfect. My personal highlights must have been when Andy went backstage, then he reappeared, rushing through the stage towards me, and gave me his towel !!! Everything happened so soon that I didn't realised it !!! But it was definitely a wonderful moment, I couldn't believe he had so much care for me !!! The other highlight was when he played the guitar solo of "Slide Show" sitting in front of me !!! And even in the aftershow, after waiting the band outside the venue, I managed to approach Andy. I talked about the great show and asked him to have a picture with him and he kindly agreed. I also talked to Fran about…well (I'm also a big R.E.M. fan), Michael Stipe actually !!! Fran is so sweet and talkative, he stayed more than fifteen minutes with us, signing autographs and having pictures with the fans. He even answered his mobile and said he was with "his" fans, begging the person on the other side, to call him back later, sweet !!! Well, what also can I say…Andy, Fran, Neil and Dougie are four wonderful people…well, what a night, what a show, what a band !!!

...LAURA'S REVIEW...

Milan, saturday the 24th of november

The air is so cold today but there's a certain "Travis atmosphere" all around and everyone can feel it. This is going to be the 2nd tour date of Travis in Italy after that one at the Vox in Modena! The band is not so popular here as it is abroad, but both the dates shows are sold out and there's no need to explain the reason! Around 7pm the doors of the Rolling Stone Club open and a huge crowd take place inside, trembling at the thought of watching the Scottish band! After 45 minutes of Turin Brakes, the support band, a smiling Fran "the mohican" Healy comes on stage, followed by the rest of the band. After a few words with the public, Fran start the show playing "Sing" and the crowd gets crazy: They're really a great band, just as everyone was expecting! The gig goes on and in a couple of hour Travis play almost all their songs plus a cover of a David Bowie's hit and an amazing unplugged version of "Twenty", played by Fran just in front of the crowd without any electric guitar, just using his own acoustic guitar! The time goes by and the end comes too soon, so the guys have to go, promising that they'll surely come back to Italy as soon as possible, after revealing they're so popular here! Well, Fran has been able to make everyone appreciate his band once again, proving that they're not just a post brit-pop band, but the keepers on the brit-pop sound in the third millennium !!!

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