THE BIG BLOG BY TRAVI$- Shane Alexander

NOW A PAUSE IN THE EUROPEAN TOUR PICTURES...

I want to introduce you to Shane Alexander... a friend.

Awesome new picture, taken by Moonie, with Shane in a T-shirt Manda and I designed.. Too Cool!

I have had the pleasure to get to know this guy over a few months, and I only see great things for him in the future...I'll let him describe his new record and himself...

Shane Alexander - The Sky Below

The dynamic collection of ten new songs was recorded over two weeks during late September / early October in Los Angeles. Shane once again teamed up with LA production duo, Heroes & Villains, with whom he made his 2006 release Stargazer. Longtime sideman and co-conspirator, Chad Crawford appears on bass, Adam Benjamin on piano, and returning from Stargazer are: drummer Charlie Paxson (James Blunt, Colin Hay), multi-instrumentalist Billy Mohler (Macy Gray, Liz Phair), and Kim Bullard (Goo Goo Dolls, Tori Amos) on Hammond organ. Veteran producer / engineer / mixer Toby Wright (Alice In Chains, Wallflowers, Chris Whitely, Trey Anastasio) mixed the record.
Stylistically, the new album has a sound all its own and features some of Alexander's best studio performances to date. There are more up-tempo songs than his previous effort, including the anthemic opener "Amsterdam", the driving "Difference of Opinion" and the groovy "Outside the Lines". After touring so much as a solo acoustic artist, Shane sought to get back to a "band sound" and something that could get a crowd moving. However, there are still the trademark acoustic ballads - the title track is a delicate, infectious song with soft finger-picked guitar and doubled vocals that whisper "all is as it should be" and the sunshine-infused "Coffee Kiss" will be sure to please fans of songs like "Valentine" and "Front Porch Serenade" from his two previous efforts.
In 2007 Shane Alexander performed for the biggest audiences of his career when he opened SEAL's U.S. tour, in addition to his own touring in the US, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium. Nearly all of the songs from the Stargazer album were licensed for television, including: ABC's Brother and Sisters, Big Shots, and What About Brian?, ABC Family's Wildfire, CBS's Criminal Minds, FOX's Bones, MTV's Real World and Laguna Beach and shows and movies for Nickelodeon, and Lifetime – exposing Shane's songs to millions worldwide.
In 2006, Alexander toured constantly and was asked to open two U.S. tours with Jewel and one U.S./Canada tour with Lisa Marie Presley – armed only with an acoustic guitar; he won over thousands of new fans night after night.

One of Manda's favorite pictures of Shane...

FROM MANDA:


Over the past year Shane Alexander and I have become good friends, I value his talent and enjoy his realistic approach to humanity. He is by far one of the greatest people I have met in this city. Our meeting was strange at best; I picked up his CD The Middle Way at Goodwill of all places solely because I liked the cover. Sent him a message on My Space with the subject reading “I guess you are worth $2.99” and when he responded with humor back I automatically was intrigued. He came to a sketch comedy show of mine and as we talked over a few drinks we found out just how small LA truly is. Turns out his old neighbor was my photographer and had mentioned Shane to me back 3 or 4 years ago. As it would turn out we had a lot of people in common and instantly formed a bond. He is a great guy and has a beautiful outlook on life; there is no doubt in my mind that he will succeed at any quest he sets his mind to. Naturally it doesn’t hurt that he is extremely talented. After listening to the first CD I picked up the next two Stargazer and then The Sky Below, when I thought his sound couldn’t get better it did when I checked him out live a few weeks later I was blown away how much he sounds just like the records! I have loads of love for him. He is one talent that I try to never miss live.







Thanks for being a friend Shane...

Painting I did of Shane... need to finally give it to him.





Peace,







Travis

THE BIG BLOG BY TRAVI$-More European Tour Pics

MORE PICTURES....

Manda and Amy headed up to the Rijksmuseum to see the skull.... check out the sand castle of the Taj Mahal to the right...





Manda and I planned this trip for months... I had wanted to return to London, and to go to Amsterdam for the last 10 years... I was so happy to be there the entire time, and now that I am back here in LA I really wish that I would have stayed... There is just so much bullshit here, and I have to face the facts...another vacation will be a long time off. I just wish that I could have just stayed....Manda and I had so much fun... I just wanted to say thank you to everyone...AGAIN!!!




THANK YOU Andi and Amy, for being such awesome hosts....For planning a surprise party for us, and really getting me. I want to thank all of ya'll that came into London for that night... So much fun... I promise that we will all get together soon... I am building a facebook page very soon. AND I promise that I will have all you added as friends soon...


Sweet Ass Cheese place in Amsterdam, this pic is for Andi, I know how much you like your cheese...

Pedro "The Human Compass" needs his medicine....

THANK YOU to Pedro for being such a tour guide..You are an amazing guy...and a friend for sure. Thank you for introducing me to your family and friends... and properly to Chelsea Football.




THANK YOU to Ry and Sarah... I am so glad I could count on you to look after the house and animals while we were gone.. I knew my Birdies; Crockett, Rain, Rio, and Cloud; as well as Groove and Max were safe...Too. Thanks for letting me enjoy the trip and not worry about them.



Edge of the Red Light...

ON to more Pictures!!!!

All of this is back in London at the British Museum



The Parthenon, unbelievable... will post more pics... especially the good ones Manda took.

The Entrance into the British Museum...

Going into the British Museum...headed back to see the sculpture and artifacts from the Gates of Babylon....

The three pieces below are all Greek... Although the one of Euripides is a Roman Copy...

Next up..... More of London...

The London EYE... Wait until you see the pics Manda got from up there...

Big Ben and Parliament, along the Thames River...

Then the Fountains and Lions at Trafalgar Square..

Headed into The Dali Museum...



Down by the London Eye at Along The Embankment.... Going to The Dali Exhibit!



MORE PICTURES TO COME...PROMISE!!!!

PEACE-

Cool Pic-Amy took at Player's

TRAVIS

THE BIG BLOG BY TRAVI$-Amsterdam Pics

THE EUROPEAN TOUR CONTINUES TO AMSTERDAM!



I made Manda go along with Amy and I to see the Rijksmuseum and Hirst's Skull, we then went to the Van Gogh and saw all the works there... and I had my first Sausage Roll.

Outside leading up to the Rijks- we saw Rembrandt's Night Watch, and the Cloth Merchants... impressive. Manda got a great pic of this with the reflection...

Manda, Pedro and I trying to figure out where we are on the map... Amsterdam was small enough that if you ever got lost... just look for the church in Dam Square and you could eventually make you way back to the Swissotel.

SO...As Promised finally an update. I am officially recovered from the vacation I just took to recover from the year I was having... Anyway on to more pictures....

Nice pic of Amy at Player's... Manda and Amy shot a few pics we did some with light refractions and reflections etc.. cool huh?

This is a shot of the Canals at night in Amsterdam... was a cold night... had fun walking around the Red Light, and down to find the last place open in Amsterdam... The Watering Hole.

THE VIDEO OF ALL OF THIS IS SWEET... I will edit it up and get it out there!!!

Shot of a Hotel in Red Light District... Amy's Brother's Place HOTEL BEN...Ha. I feel like I was away for months, and It was only two weeks... I really wish that I could just pack up and head right back.. I will soon.. I just have to get a few bucks together..... More pics of this trip to come... Both of Amsterdam, and of London... Including Chelsea Football!

PEACE- TRAVIS

THE BIG UK BLOG BY TRAVI$- LONDON CALLING

TRAVANDA EUROPEAN TOUR 2008

Manda and I about to take-off at LAX

What is up? I finally have taken the time to post a new blog... This trip has been awesome. I am still so jacked that I am actually here in London, and we head off to Amsterdam tomorrow! Andi and Amy have been the greatest hosts; they have been planning on our arrival for months, and they organized a surprise party, got us passes on the London Eye... Just have been fucking awesome. They scooped us up at Heathrow, and we have been having fun non-stop.

PICTURES FROM HEATHROW

I promise to blog more the next couple of days, with pictures from The London Eye, The British Museum, Chelsea v. Newcastle, Our first Big Nite out in London Proper West End, with Pedro and George at China White, and so much more, including Andi and Amy's Super Surprise Party!!!!

I have been treated to some of the very best in London, mostly due to the kindness of Manda's Friend Pedro Phillipou, who is First Team Staff Masseur for Chelsea Football Club. Pedro has treated the two of us as family, and has been an awesome guy from the word go. THANK YOU SO MUCH PEDRO!!!

Manda is sleeping already, resting up for tomorrow, and I will post her pics soon.

She got tons of great shots today, my batteries failed just after the first hour at the British Museum, just wait till ya'll see her shots.

Thanks again Ry-Heen and Sarah, we couldn't get to do this; if it wasn't for the both of you...

LOVE YOU MOM and DAD... and I miss you both. It was great to talk to you today Mom.... I will see ya soon.

PEACE,

TRAVI$

THE BIG BLOG BY TRAVI$

TRAVIS MEETS SIXX

Painting I did of Nikki Sixx's Hands

I just want to start off by thanking Mikeal Maglieri, Celina Denkins, Tisa Mylar, Jack Whiteman and everyone else that helped me out last night at the Whisky a Go Go. You all were instrumental in getting me to Nikki Sixx, so I could give him the painting I did of his hands. Nikki is a class act guy, and I really think he liked the painting. He was cool enough to get a picture with me with the painting, and thanked me as much as I thanked him. I told him that his book inspired the piece, and that Mikeal wanted me to get to him so he could have it. I know that Celina and the staff at the Whisky let him know I was there, and made sure that he and I would connect after the battle of the bands Motley Crue was judging. I can't say thanks enough to all of ya'll and especially to Nikki, for being such a awesome guy. I like to root for guys that I know are class acts, and Nikki Sixx is a class act.

Me and Nikki with the painting

I spent most of the night hanging out by the Motley Crue bus, back behind the Whisky, I chatted with Jack Whiteman, and the crowd that had formed to see the guys, and all the bands preforming that night at the Whisky, I made a few friends and I just wanted to say what's up to all ya'll too... easier to stay warm out there when there are cool folks to talk to, it really passed the time.

Snake of Eden (Oskar, Rock and Kelli)

If you get a chance this Wednesday Night, check out Snake of Eden at the Joint, on Pico... They hung out back waiting on Tommy Lee all night...From Sweden originally.

Fabio, on the far right, and his Crew

And Props to Fabio and his friends, I got the MySpace hit man... See ya'll on the Strip Soon.

ALSO DON'T FORGET-

MOTLEY CRUE AT THE PALLADIUM

NOVEMBER 14TH!

THANKS PEACE,

TRAVI$

THE BIG BLOG BY TRAVI$

Loss Angeless Clothing Update:

Manda and I have been working together on this new line of T-Shirts, and through her connections in the entertainment community we have begun to get the shirts out to musicians, artists, and celebrities... Hopefully this will be the first in a series of Blogs dedicated to the Artists that are wearing our gear....

Joey DeGraw

JOEY, MANDA and ANDY

JOEY ON STAGE @ HOUSE OF BLUES-OCTOBER 8TH

Bio:
NYC based singer-songwriter, Joey DeGraw, combines powerful songs with a rootsy rock feel creating an unmistakable sound. DeGraw’s songs provide honest, witty, and sharp observations on life and he sings them with a voice that is raw and filled with emotion. The older brother of recording artist Gavin DeGraw, Joey is a prolific writer and has written with some of the industry’s top selling artists such as Joss Stone and Chris Barron of the Spin Doctors. "Gavin is like a rocket. Joey is like a time bomb," says NYC’s Bitter End owner Ken Gorka. Joey has packed the house at some of NYC's most famous clubs such as the Bitter End, the Knitting Factory, and Mercury Lounge to name a few. He has also toured internationally both with his own band, and as the guitarist and singer in younger brother Gavin's band. Well-known in the underground New York City music scene, Joey has been featured on Clear Channel's website as well as Z-100's website. He has received rave reviews in mainstream media like the NY Post and The Times Herald Record. Joey also performed two songs that appeared on the hit TV show One Tree Hill. Joey's self produced debut CD sold over 30,000 copies without any label support, major or independent. DeGraw is currently recording with noted Producer, Steve Greenwell. Steve is best known for producing Joss Stone’s “The Soul Sessions” and “Mind, Body & Soul.” Some of the guest appearances on Joey's forthcoming album are Joss Stone, Bonnie Rait, Jackson Browne, Mountain front man Leslie West, Chris Barron of the Spin Doctors, Johnny Winter and of course, Gavin DeGraw. "What makes Joey such a deep writer and overwhelming talent, besides his god given gifts, is that ... it is all about music as an art form. He is a purist and the only young blood in music today that gives me hope". - Chris Whitley

You can also learn more about Joey and hear some of his music at http://www.joeydegraw.com/ or http://www.myspace.com/joeydegraw



After working with Joey for over a year or so I got to know him pretty well! He is super excited about the release of his new record, “Say Something Strong”. Joey recently opened for his brother Gavin DeGraw at the House of Blues on Sunset. We think he looks good in Loss Angeless Clothing!!

-Manda

SO,

CHECK US OUT, AND MENTION US TO YOUR FRIENDS,

THANKS,

TRAVI$

THE BIG BLOG BY TRAVI$

LOSS ANGELESS

TUESDAY NOV 4th ELECTION DAY..... SOON to be a short film as soon as I get it edited... So you can see Manda nad I go pull the lever for change....

SO.....

Wow, what a week, I have been pretty involved with politics as of late and we, Manda and I have been all over Los Angeles as a result. First of All CONGRATS TO BARACK. Awesome, and I just want to say that I finally feel like I will have a guy in the White House that I identify with... A young guy if you consider 47 young, that has some great ideas, and a backing from the Democratic Controlled House and Senate, hopefully he will work with the GOP and get this place straightened out. I think he can be a great unifier, and if the Boomers will just give this guy an chance we will see some results.

OBAMA T-SHIRTS STILL AVAILABLE-

PRE ELCTION STYLE, POST ELECTION PRICES!!!

$25 EACH Mens and Women

WEDNESDAY NIGHT NOV 5th

MICHELE AND WILL IN SUNSET PLAZA---NO on 8!!!!! NO to HATE!!!!

Now on a completely different note...I was shocked and really utterly disappointed with the State of California's voters decision to ban Gay Marriage in the state. I think that it is truly unfortunate that we as a country, and definitely as a state took such a gigantic leap forward electing Barack Obama President, and then took a giant leap backward to strip the right to marry from the Gays of California. I also am outraged with The Mormon Church and with the Knights of Columbus for backing this proposition. I truly believe that many of the voting public really thought they were voting for Gay marriage when they voted yes on Prop 8. There has been many reports of being misled by the wording of the proposition itself. It is obvious the confusion when even the papers, and the TV news reporters covering the Proposition debate, both before the election, and then in the aftermath, as protesters took to the street, made glaring mistakes explaining the prop's wording, while they tried to explain the outrage produced by its passing. It is also sad to learn that the largest supporters, by demogaphics, for the Prop, came from the Black electorate. They voted overwhelmingly for the Ban... A group finally vindicated with Obama's win, chose to take away rights from Gays, another minority group. Same thing goes for the Hispanics in Los Angeles, a majority voted for it as well. No doubt spurred on by the encouragement of the preachers in the pulpit, both in the Catholic church and in the congregations of Southern Baptists as well. I guess that the Black community will continue to be highly homophobic, and the South will continue to be racist, and the Fly-Overs will continue to be clueless. When will we all finally try and do what is right for all?

WALKING WEST DOWN SUNSET, TRAFFIC WAS TOTALLY SHUT DOWN AND WE TOOJK OVER THE CITY!!!!

MANDA and I made our own Signs....

The main problems with Prop 8, besides the fact that it is discriminatory, is that it was intentionally, deceptively written, funded by religious zealots, and that the the public was inundated with advertisements in the weeks leading up to the election that were deceptive and used kids as their pawns to scare parents. So much so that some of the Pastors at area churches pushed for their congregations to get involved in this Campaign of HATE. From the pulpit they preached discrimination and Hate, and encouraged their congregation to donate to the cause in the form of cash as well as time. One Mormon Family donated over $50,000, their life savings, to Yes on Prop 8, said they prayed on it, and God told them it was the best thing for their kids and their kids better, better than investing the cash? The state of California has allowed the Mormons to insert religion into the state constitution, and the Knights of Columbus are just as guilty. The folks that preached for the Support of Prop 8 are misguided and ignorant at best; ugly and hateful at worst. If your pastor convinced you to vote for Prop 8 you should be ashamed, California should be ashamed, and this battle will go on. I feel so bad for all my friends. I just feel like it is so wrong to take away a group of people's rights. What started as a little rally in WEHO turned into a huge protest, So my Sister and I marched throughout the streets of Los Angeles, and shut down traffic and made sure that all the people in LA, and all the people in California, and all the people in the U.S. had to see that what the Churches (both the Catholics, and the Mormons) did was not right. The protest have continued and have shut down traffic and got the word out not only in WEHO, and Hollywood, and Long Beach, and Westwood, and in Sandeigo, and San Francisco, it has been all over the cable news channels and on Live on all the local affilites. I know that this will be the main Civil Rights issue for this generation to tackle. I also think that when you say you Love Jesus, and that Jesus loves everyone, and is tolerant, and forgiving, and treated those that others deemed unclean, or inhuman, as friends, then you treat others with no respect, and when you are filled with hate, and you try and pick on people based on differences then you should be ASHAMED. That is NOT CHRISTIAN, PERIOD. That is why I do not associate with the Hypocrites that attend organized religious services. Churches are a breeding ground for homophobia, racism, adultery, gossip, and HATE. Not to mention the mind control tactics, and the requests for financial assistance, and let's not leave out the molestation, mainly the Catholic Priests...So when the Mormons, a group that practices polygamy, and the Catholic Church, an institution that covers up the rape of little boys, begins to dictate social policy, and infringes upon the rights of the people of this state, I feel like something has to be done to put the Jesus Freaks back in line. I just hope that the lawsuits and challenges that go forward begin to spur debate, and lead to the eventual reversal of PROP H8TE.

WE STARTED IN WEHO on the corner of San Vicente and Santa Monica, with only a few protestors, but as the night grew the crowd grew.

MANDA gets the crowd going in Sunset Plaza.

COUNTDOWN TO EUROPE STANDS AT 9 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!

LOOK OUT GRASSHOPPER.

I can't wait to get out of the US for a while, and I know that I will be much more popular over-seas now with an Obama win.....THANKS BARACK! Amsterdam is just part of the trip...but isn't it pretty at night?

SEE YA SOON. PEACE.

TRAVI$