SILVER TRAVIS: Press

(From the Compact Dreams section of the official Allman Brothers Band Magazine #62, August, 2009)

Few can emulate the original Marshall Tucker Band’s unmistakable melodies with such fresh vitality as Silver Travis. Complete with a Toy Caldwell-like tone in Randall Calvert’s fantastic, cutting lead guitar, their song “Southern Poet” will rivet any lover of real southern rock. There’s even a cool flute and sax break by original Tucker reeds man Jerry Eubanks in the instrumental “El Segundo.” And, Paul T. Riddle plays drums on that one. Yes, they’re from Spartanburg, South Carolina, but this recently reunited, longstanding band of brothers draws plenty from outside their hometown and its biggest legacy. I hear the lazy crack of a .38 Special in “You Done Me Wrong,” and the wielding of some steely Molly Hatchet in “Wishing Well.” Singer Rick Cash uses his silky growl to great effect in “Bad Case of Loving You,” a ballad with a few more serious Calvert licks. Silver Travis’ new album is a triumph of originality and inspiration.

(Translated from the French text)

Although Didier Demeslay (Bands of Dixie editor) was seduced by "One Monkey Don't Spoil The Show," the first album from Silver Travis, I must admit I wasn't really convinced, even if I thought it was well done and it contained some really nice songs. To me, it was kind of flat, there was no high points. I must also admit this new album, in my opinion, is completely different.

There's been only one change in the lineup, with Danny Sigfreid leaving and being replaced by John Gillie on acoustic and rhythm guitar. John also wrote four of the songs, the other ones being written by lead guitarist Randall Calvert. The rest of the bands is singer Rick Cash, drummer Mike Satterfield, and bassist Joey Parrish.

As Didier mentioned, Silver Travis’ music sounding similar to Marshall Tucker's music is a key point. As a matter of fact, Tim Lawter and Rusty Milner, two ex members of MTB, worked on this new album.

"Take the high road" is the opeing song, and is just a great and groovy song. "You done me wrong" has such great guitar parts. This southern jewel alone would make me want to buy the record. "Wishing well" is more of a rocking, tough song. Randall Calvert and keyboardist Mike Blackwood share lead parts.

Ths six strings are also remarkable on "High road," a mid tempo song which is, to me, a ballad. As is "A bad case of loving you", where Randall Calvert shows all of his songwriting and guitar player's talent. He also writes a great song with "Time for a change," a more powerful one, on which we really appreciate the singing by Rick Cash, as we appreciate on every song, by the way. Rick is one of the great southern vocalists.

"El segundo", with it’s latin and jazzy theme reminds of Dickey Betts, even if the guitar is not as present as it is on other songs. A really nice instrumental on which you can hear original MTB members Paul Riddle and Jerry Eubanks, playing both flute and sax. "Southern poet" is another one of the songs that remains Marshall Tucker Band.

Randall Calvert is a guitar player who reminds a lot Toy Caldwell, and you can really hear it on this new album. If Toy was not in heaven, we would check on the credits if it's not him playing on ths songs. Calvert has not only been inluenced by Toy, but also he reminds me of Dickey Betts.

"Low down ways" is a song with acoustic guitar, which is just perfect with the piano. This one even plays a great solo, just behind Will Compton's sax. A real nice and cool song which is followed by one of the most rocking songs, "Honky Tonk Shuffle".

Although the sound of "Rooster" is close to Marshall Tucker Band, it also reminds me of Grinderswitch and their "Kiss The Blues Goodby." "Driving Me Wild" is a real rock song with a furious Randall Calvert guitar part. The album finishes with "Saw Mill Roa, with a bit of bottleneck and acoustic guitar picking.

The album contains no bonus but you can listen to their 45rpm from 1982, on their website (www.silvertravis.com).

I mentioned several times the influence of the Marshall Tucker Band but if you listen to the more heavier and tougher songs, you'll hear influences from Point Blank. Silver Travis is now lauched and let's bet we'll hear many good things about them in the future.

-Luc Brunot

The Silver Travis Band is back with their second album, and if you thought their debut was great, wait until you get a load of Take The High Road.

Based in Spartanburg, SC, Silver Travis first came together while still in high school during the early 1980’s. The band was heavily influenced by home town heroes The Marshall Tucker Band, and even recorded a 45 single at Tucker’s Creative Arts Studio in Moore, SC. The band played around the East Coast for a few years before disbanding. Then in 2004 a chance meeting between old friends set the stage for a full scale reunion, and the boys haven’t looked back since.

With a successful debut, One Monkey Don’t Spoil The Show under their belt, Silver Travis set about writing a new volume of songs that are even better than the first ones, and enlisted the producing and engineering talents of former Marshall Tucker members Tim Lawter and Rusty Milner to create a solid, rocking, oftentimes beautiful masterpiece.

The unique and awe inspiring vocals of Big Rick Cash are the core of the Silver Travis sound, coupled with the red hot blistering guitar work of Randall Calvert, as well as Mike Satterfield on the drum kit, Joey Parrish on bass, and John Gillie on rhythm and acoustic guitars.

All twelve songs are winners in anyones book, from the rocking “You Done Me Wrong” and “Wishing Well” to the John Gillie penned title track “The High Road,” with its tight harmonies and infectious sing-along melody. Cash excels on the beautiful ballad “Bad Case of Loving You,” a personal favorite, and the Latin flavored instrumental “El Segundo” brings in the guest artistry of founding Marshall Tucker Band members Paul T. Riddle and Jerry Eubanks to great effect.

Gillie also contributes the memorable “Southern Poet” and the outlaw country tinged “Honky Tonk Shuffle.”

“Rooster” is a true blues tune the band has been performing live for several years now, and it rocks, as does “Time for a Change” and “Drivin’ Me Wild,” a tune that features a sort of Gov’t Mule arrangement. “Low Down Ways” is another mellow rocker with that Marshall Tucker feel, and “Saw Mill Road” kicks off with some tasty Dobro pickin’ before turning it up to eleven with some fine country rock. Like so many others, it’s a song about a girl. Imagine that.

Silver Travis have everything it takes to make any Southern Rock and modern country fan grin from ear to ear. It’s early in the year, but you can pretty much count on this one being in my Top Ten of 2009. There’s no other band that sounds like Silver Travis, and no other singer like Rick Cash. You owe it tom yourself to experience them.

-Michael Buffalo Smith

SILVER TRAVIS BAND SWINGS BACK WITH CD. (Spartanburg Herald June 10, 2006)

Members of the Silver Travis Band have experienced more of the ups and downs of music than the crescendo of lead guitarist Randall Calvert's hot licks.

Their name was adopted by mistake, and they took a 23-year break from performing before recording their first CD, released by Mountain Records.

Even the CD's name hints at obstacles they have overcome. "One Monkey Don't Spoil the Show" is a mix of Southern rock, country and blues that band members call their unique sound.
They say the setbacks have only made them stronger.

In 1981, lead singer Rick Cash, lead guitarist Randall Calvert, bass guitarist Joey Parrish, drummer Mike Satterfield and guitarist Steve Harvey formed the band.

Most were teenagers, and they soon decided on a name to honor the memory of a Civil War general.

Through a misunderstanding, they chose Travis, thinking it was the name of Robert E. Lee's horse, and they threw in the color, silver, to dress it up a little.

"Then we found out that Robert E. Lee's horse was Traveller. But it was too late. We already had T-shirts printed," Calvert said.

The band still laughs about the misnomer, and Collins tries to recover from the faux pas by offering another explanation.

"Or, we could say that we're named for Travis Henry, the NFL running back," Collins said. "Well, maybe not."

With a name in place, the band members quit their real jobs -- as grocery store bag boys -- and left their homes in the Spartanburg area for Myrtle Beach's famed bar, the Bowery.

The legendary band Alabama had hit the big time after playing the Bowery, and Silver Travis, already strongly influenced by the sound of Spartanburg's original Marshall Tucker Band, hoped to follow their lead.

The gig lasted about two weeks before they ate up their tip money, Parrish said.

Their bus broke down in Clinton on the return from Myrtle Beach.

They, however, remained determined, and a couple of road trips followed.

One memorable venture wound through West Virginia, where band members described six-inch snowflakes visible through the windshield of their vehicle.

When they passed the vehicle ahead of theirs, they soon realized it was not snowing.

They had been following a truck hauling chickens, and feathers were flying.

But the snow soon set in -- more than any of them had seen. They were socked in for two weeks.

A couple of years passed, and the band members parted. No one can recall any particular reason.

They kept in touch over the years, and a series of phone calls in 2004 lead to a revival.

Silver Travis has an extended and combined list of performers they have taken the stage with or opened for, including Marshall Tucker Band members, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, the Toy Caldwell Band members, Tommy Crain with the Charlie Daniels Band and Bonnie Bramlett.

In the early days, they rehearsed at the home of Calvert's parents, Allen and Barbara Calvert.

Allen Calvert said he often could not get into his driveway because of the band's cars.

He said the music was loud but did not bother him, and he continues to support Silver Travis.

Barbara Calvert, however, often had to pull the plug when bedtime arrived.

"She would shut off the power, so she could get some sleep," Allen Calvert said.

Mark Calvert, Randall Calvert's younger brother, had a bedroom over the basement where the band jammed.

Allen Calvert said that his youngest son would begin jumping up and down mischievously and finally caused a fluorescent light on the ceiling below to crash onto the basement floor.

"Yeah, I remember. Almost hit my head," Satterfield said.

The reunion has led to much reminiscing by family and friends.

"It's all been a lot of fun over the years. I love their sound. They have a natural talent," Allen Calvert said.

Mark Calvert is now the band's stage manager.

"We all grew up listening to the Marshall Tucker Band. I hung out with Silver Travis most of my life. I liked to aggravate them; now I work with them," Mark Calvert said.

Booking agent Mark Godbee, nicknamed Gumby by the band, said Silver Travis sometimes is described as up and coming.

"But they've already arrived. They are beginning to reach a younger crowd. They have a sound that is for a mix of ages, and their following is growing," Godbee said.

More information on the band and CD that contains its original music is available at www.silvertravis.com, he said.

Greg Bridges, sound and light technician, said more than 80 percent of the songs played by the band are original.

"They are the best I've ever mixed sound with. This is a hobby now. We're not quitting our jobs, yet. We're talking about performing a couple of weekends a month," Bridges said.

At a benefit concert in Jonesville on June 3, Crystal Prince, who is 2 years old, showed her appreciation on behalf of the younger set.

She stood in her chair and bounced to the beat, trying to snap her fingers, following the instructions of her great-grandmother, Patsy Bates.

And Caleb Robinson, 15, of Roebuck checked out the band's T-shirt and CD displays.

"I like country, and I think these guys are great," Robinson said.

The newest band member, John Gillie, said their music is a result of what works well for each of them.

"When somebody brings something to the table, we listen. At first, we might not agree, but collectively we work it out and make it sound really good. Every band member contributes," Gillie said.

Mark Calvert describes the band's music as capable of making the hair stand up on one's neck.

"I think we were given music -- first -- for worship. I think it's good therapy. Life deals us some hard cards, sometime. Music often helps us," he said.

Silver Travis
One Monkey Don’t Spoil The Show
(Mountain Records)
www.silvertravis.com

During the peak of the Marshall Tucker Band’s career, There were a great many Upstate South Carolina bands in line for the throne, but one of the most likely contenders was a little Spartanburg, S.C. band called Silver Travis. The band worked hard to perfect their unique sound, and became well known around the East Coast before breaking up in 1983.

In 2004, the band reunited to record their first ever album, and the product is very good. There are the obvious Marshall Tucker influences, as well as hints of Poco, The Eagles and Restless Heart, but Silver Travis doesn’t sound exactly like any other band. They are unique. The ultra-smooth voice of Rick Cash is as clear and beautiful as it was in 1982, and Randall Calvert’s Toy Caldwell influenced lead guitar is better than ever.

The songs are totally original, and there are several radio-ready tunes here including “This Time,” “Gray Day” and a song with #1 written all over it, “Point Of No Return.”

One of the best records to come out of the South all year.


-Michael Buffalo Smith

ONE MONKEY DON'T SPOIL THE SHOW

The chimpanzee on Silver Travis cover stops his ears, and we ask ourselves why, because Silver Travis, that sounds a lot like the Marshall Tucker Band, from Spartanburg, shows all of its great qualities on this first album. There are good influences, like the Marshall Tucker Band, but Silver Travis music is a kind of unique, and there's always something happening.

A song such as Leaving, jazzy and laid-back, reminds us of Toy Caldwell, and we also get some serious blues on Point Of No Return. Silver Travis is heavier on Everyday Grind and The Bus, similar to the band Eat A Peach. One Monkey is the perfect album for Southern Rock roots die-hard fans.

When my friend Tim Shook introduced me to this group of guys back in the early 1980’s, I had no idea that I would be forging lifetime friendships with each of them. Nor would I have ever guessed that it would be almost 25 years before they would reunite to record their first ever album, and that I would be designing the packaging and writing the liner notes. I must say though, it’s pretty cool synchronicity.
The band went through a handful of personnel changes during their years together, but the basic core that was there in the beginning is back together: Randall Calvert on guitar; Mike Satterfield on drums; Rick Cash on lead vocals; and Joey Parrish on bass; along with former member Terry Collins on keys; and Danny Sigfreid on guitar.
I have so many great memories of those days in Spartanburg, S.C. back in the ‘80’s, working sound and lights and writing songs for the boys; rehearsals on Spring Street; driving to Virginia in the snow to play a gig; recording at the old Marshall Tucker Band studio in Moore; getting my feet wet as a singer when Big Rick would graciously let me sing a few numbers; and that unforgettable run we had at The Bowery in Myrtle Beach, that put the seal on our brotherhood forever. I am just plain thrilled that the band is back together, and I believe this recording is a perfect representation of the talent of each of this guys, and the power they wield when they come together. A new beginning for a great band.