Right from the first twangy intro and stellar lead guitar of Pennsylvania singer-songwriter Josh Travis’ blue-collar rocker “Secondhand Smoke,” (below) there is a mature musical stare of a songwriter that almost sounds like the second coming of Jason Isbell. Avoiding any Americana gimmicks that have so much covered Nashville of late, Travis lets his achy voice and jolting guitar do the heavy lifting.
On his new full-length debut album Few of Days & Full of Trouble, this album is a juxtaposition of belief and reality, personal struggles, and the weight of loss, carrying listeners on a captivating journey through his restless spirit.
These songs were born over a 4-5 year timeframe, with Travis sitting at home, guitar in lap, between 2017 and 2021. “I knew I wanted to capture these songs as best as we could,” Travis stated, highlighting the deep personal connection he had with the material. As the project took shape, the overarching concepts and themes became apparent, solidifying the album’s direction.
The album was recorded at Music Garden Studios in New Brighton, PA, with Travis spending sporadic periods over a year and a half perfecting each track. “I wanted to pour everything I could into it,” Travis notes, acknowledging the significance of this project as his first full-length LP.
Having already performed most of these songs live with his band, Travis aimed to capture their essence while also pushing for a grander sound. With the addition of instruments like organ, steel, and fiddle, Travis found the support he needed through the connections of producer Al Torrence.
The recording approach for the album aimed to preserve the organic energy of his four-piece band. The experience of being in the same room with his bandmates and capturing the essence of their live performances lends itself to a warm and authentic energy throughout the record, serving to elevate Travis’s songwriting within.
Glide is premiering the prementioned “Secondhand Smoke” a blistering single that should earn Travis some noteworthy festival gigs and opening tour slots for familiar names.
‘Secondhand Smoke’ is about feeling like I should make something more of my life because we’re told to do things like ‘follow your dreams’ or ‘achieve greatness’ and in most peoples’ eyes that tends to mean that you have to do something extreme and not settle for the status quo. But even if I live a quiet and humble life, that’s okay. I don’t need to be significant or get above my raising. There will always be some longings left unfulfilled, but at the end of the day, if I believe that God has a purpose for my life then I can be content with where I’m at,” says Travis.
“This song sat half-written and forgotten about for a couple years until I put the band together. I finished the song not thinking it was very good but the band insisted we play it….and now here it is, the first track on the record.”
One Response
Beautiful, humble, lovely to see a young man and his band play with passion and authentic sincere energy when this culture values over the top attention seeking “me” driven actions.