Travis Meeks
Live Bootleg
Travis Meeks's bass growl earned the predictable comparisons to Alice in Chains and Jim Morrison, though the emphasis on acoustic guitars lends a closer affinity with latter-day Pearl Jam.
Originally hailing from Charlestown, IN, before relocating to Louisville, KY, Days Of The New was signed to a recording deal after just three shows and released their self-titled debut album in June 1997. Three of the band, Travis Meeks (b. 27 April 1979; singer/songwriter/guitarist), Jesse Vest (b. 10 May 1977; bass) and Matt Taul (b. 30 August 1978; drums), previously performed as the Metallica-influenced Dead Reckoning. When the band revised itself into Days Of The New, guitarist Todd Whitener (b. 25 May 1978; rhythm guitar) rounded out the line-up.
The group has been driven by Meeks' musical vision from the get-go. The band's largely acoustic sound caught the ear of former R.E.M. producer Scott Litt, who signed the group to his newly formed label, Outpost, and oversaw the group's self-titled 1997 release. The album, often called The Orange Album, was an immediate hit on the strength of such singles as "Touch, Peel and Stand" and "The Down Town." "Touch, Peel and Stand" quickly hit the number 1 spot on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, stayed there for over four months and was featured heavily on MTV. The group spent the summer of 1998 opening up for one of their musical heroes, Metallica.
Meeks, parting company with the other members of the band after their tour wrapped up, wrote, recorded and produced the second Days Of The New album on his own, again self-titled but referred to as The Green Album. 2000 saw Meeks cover the Doors classic "The End" with the surviving Doors members for a taping of VH1's Storytellers series (as well as recording a studio version of that song and "L.A. Woman" which appeared on the Doors tribute disc Stoned Immaculate: The Music of the Doors). The band's third album, The Red Album, appeared in 2001. Meeks' career has also included compositions for film soundtracks, production and soundboard expertise for the Southern-based band Ethan, collaboration with songstress Lennon, and sound effects for high-tech video games.
Rock: 90's Rock