Why did Fran Healy, the lead singer of the acclaimed Scottish Britpop band Travis, make a solo record, this falls forthcoming Wreckorder, without his longtime bandmates? I hate them, Healy told me on a recent phone call. I hate all of my band. Theyre all wankers. In all seriousness, Wreckorder came about during a much-needed rest period for Travis last year Healy says he wrote the songs to invigorate my brain and inspire me The result? A gorgeously sweeping collection of grand and richly arranged pop songs featuring Healys tender-sweet vocals, as well as a heart-aching duet with Neko Case and, on another track, a musician named Sir Paul McCartney on the bass. ERIN K. THOMPSON
Wed., Aug. 18, 8 p.m., 2010
