Travis Taps Chris Martin & Brandon Flowers for Nostalgic Single “Raze the Bar”

Travis has released a new single, “Raze the Bar,” featuring Chris Martin of Coldplay and Brandon Flowers of the Killers. The song tells a bittersweet story about the closing of the Black and White bar, a much-loved hangout of the band in New York, recounting a fantastic last night there before it closed.

“There was a great bar in New York,” Fran Healy said in a statement. “It didn't have a name, but everyone called it Black and White because of the black and white striped awning that hung over the entrance. They had poetry nights, great DJs, open mic nights. If you played a show at Irving Plaza or Webster Hall, chances are you ended up in the Black and White until the wee hours. One of the owners, Johnny T, has looked after so many artists and bands over the years. If this bar could talk, what a story it would tell.”

He added, “During the pandemic, their landlord refused to negotiate a reduced rent and they had to close. So in the middle of the night, they showed up with a truck and removed every trace and fixture from the bar. Then they whitewashed the whole area so that it would never happen again. “Raze the Bar” is a song about a fantastic last night at the bar. Johnny is in there, Jack, Richard and Johnny's brother and bar co-owner Chris. The cameos were almost an afterthought! I just called Chris Martin in a bit of a panic because I couldn't figure out what the order of the track should be. When Chris heard it, he said, “This song is the best thing you've ever written!” And since he and Brandon Flowers both live very close…”

“Raze the Bar” comes off Travis' upcoming LP, LA Times, which was produced by Tony Hoffer. It's the second track to emerge from the album, which will be released on July 12 via BMG.

“LA Times it's our most personal album since then The man whoHealy explained. “There were a lot of big things to write about then, the tectonic plates had shifted in my life. I was 22 when I wrote these songs. It was my therapy. Over 20 years later and the tables have turned again. There's a lot to talk about.”

Travis hit the road in support of the album this summer. The band will appear with the Killers across their 16-date UK tour through June and July and return to Europe in August and September for their first continent-wide tour since 2016. More dates UK tour dates to be announced soon.

Healy talk to NME about touring with the Killers, noting, “We've been friends for years and years now and Ronnie [Vannucci Jr.] and Brandon are the sweetest guys. It's nice to be a support band again. I love being a backing band. It reminds me of when we were supporting Oasis. We went every night to blast them off the stage, which is what a good support band should do. You keep going, the other band watching from the wings as you go, “Marry.” And then they come in and look better because of it.”