I first discovered her music when she (unofficially) replaced Michael Steele in The Bangles in 2005 when Steele decided to leave the band for unknown personal reasons. That same year, Travis had also worked with Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s on her stellar solo album Light Years and played gigs with Valentine and Jane Wiedlin.The Bangles visited Australia for a concert tour in November 2005, a performance I wholeheartedly loved as it was my first ever concert experience. Though, in all honesty, I did miss Steele playing with Susanna Hoffs and Vicki and Debbi Peterson.

Dynamic, Moody, Upbeat and Depressing

Travis was a dynamic bass player with loads of energy and charisma. She did not sing lead on any songs, nor has she sung lead on any Bangles albums, but she seemed such a natural member of the group that fans soon began calling her “the new Bangle”. There were detractors however, who called her lots of other things, but true fans like myself always rallied to her defense.

A month or so prior to the show, I had purchased her first two solo albums The Abby Travis Foundation and Cut Throat Standards and Black Popfrom Amazon.com. I had never heard her sing before, but as I was going to see her in November, I wanted to check her out. Now, I am certainly glad I did. Travis’ music can be at different times beautiful, thrilling, provocative, upbeat, severely depressing (but not in a negative sense), and uplifting. Travis’ audiences get so many facets of this amazing woman in her albums, and each song becomes an instant classic.

Glitter Mouth from the Pelvis

In 2006, after my first concert experience with Travis and The Bangles, the lady released a third album, Glitter Mouth, which to date, is both my favorite Abby Travis album, and in my top twenty favorites in my 190 item CD collection. Yes, I counted.

Travis explains the theme of her third album as more sensual and emotive than her Mensa-worthy first two releases. This is not to say that Glitter Mouth is not as intelligent as the other two, because it is, but it does appeal more solely to the heart.

“My last album was rather dark and intellectual,” Travis said.  “This one comes more from the pelvis.”

Travis not only wrote, sang and played bass (along with other instruments as she is very versatile in this area), she also produced, engineered and mixed much of the album.

“I know, I know,” she confesses with a silvery laugh, “I have trouble delegating sometimes.”