Travoltas- The Longest Wait

Very few bands can go inactive for nearly a decade yet retain the type of staying power that the Travoltas do. With their sound that combines a mixture of Beach Boys meets The Ramones, varying elements of pop, and incredible vocals that they execute so brilliantly, not only are they unique but also a well shaped brand. Any band sure can try but there's not another that can even touch inside the realm they exist in as far as I'm concerned. One thing anyone who loves this band has always hoped for but seemed so slim in chance started to take shape last November when the Travoltas created a buzz with this statement: "Word on the street is something's going to happen in 2014..". This simple yet promising sentence was enough to have many fans, including myself excited! At the end of January, three reunion shows were announced which was great news but for someone like me who couldn't make a trip out to the Netherlands, seeing a picture of Perry appearing to be recording in the studio at the start of April made all this so much cooler. That's when it was pretty obvious some new material was going to be released and after all that wait, we now have a perfectly named EP from the boys called, "The Longest Wait"!

The songs were recorded in two separate continents, with part being done at at Studio De Keuken in Amsterdam, NL by Wouter Verhulst and the other at The Basement in Boston, MA, by Kevin James. Mixing was done at Point Break in Boston, MA, by Perry Leenhouts himself and mastering was done at New Alliance East in Cambridge, MA, by Nick Zampiello and Rob Gonnella. Poducer credits also go to Perry for PeVi Productions International. A photo of a beautiful jewel toned wave coming in that is quite symbolic of a return was a great choice as the cover art. Like a wave, everything rolled in pretty quickly with the announcement that it was coming soon at the beginning of May. The official release was May 20th as a digital download directly from the band on a few different sites. I'll give you the links to iTunes and CD Baby.

I had woken up before seven am on the morning of the release and there was NO WAY to fall back asleep when I checked online and saw it was available. With my eyes halfway open and incoherent, I successfully went to iTunes, bought the download and was so anxious to hear what they had done in the studio. The first and title track, "The Longest Wait" didn't take more than a few seconds to make me overwhelmed with happiness. The tale of a reuniting is nothing short of beautiful with the music being totally on point. Great punk rock guitars, organs played with reverence, fantastic drumming, and then there's Perry... I've said it on several occasions and I'll say it again. He could open up a phone book, sing what he sees in there and I'd listen like a mesmerised teenybopper with my face in my hands haha. Hell, he could probably make a better sound than most vocalists out there with even a half effort but lucky for us, he approached these songs with full capacity. As if we could expect any less! A vocal tone like his is simply timeless, natural, and meant to be. Those backing vocals from Erik and Skokie are perfect as well, maintaining the great reputation this band has for containing some of the best harmonies in the pop punk realm. It fades out with the sound of waves coming in on a shore and that leads into the next track, "Beautiful". It was the instant favorite for me, a song of devotion like only the Travoltas can play with such a lovely chorus, melody, and lead guitar. "On Through The Night" is the heaviest in what Skokie does so well with his magnificent skill as a keyboard player and made me think of "Endless Summer". It easily could have been a song on that record. Very cool!The closing track entitled "Last Song" ends the EP just as powerfully as it started although I hope it's no hint to this being the last of what we'll hear from them.  

I can tell you with full certainty, for only four songs, the guys surely made a big statement and it is that the passion of the Travoltas hasn't only remained, but grown even brighter in their absence. This is without thinking twice, a moment that is making 2014 a year in music to be treasured and it's really nice to see things open up again for such a phenomenal band. In following along with pictures, tweets, and footage from their reunion shows, I saw a lot of love shown from both the Travoltas in their performance(they haven't missed a beat!) and the audience alike. A post they had made to their facebook page after the weekend was over ended with, "Until we meet again!". Let's all hope that is true and keep this momentum going by supporting "The Longest Wait" so the Travoltas  know we need them to hang around. Pop punk changed for the better when they first arrived so many years ago and still benefits from their contribution just as much in present day.

The Travoltas are...

Woody- Drums

Perry- Lead Vocals

Erik- Bass & Backing Vocals

Mickey- Lead & Rhythm Guitar

Vincent Koreman- Rhythm Guitar

Skokie- Synth, Organ & Backing Vocals

Tracks 1,3,4 written by Perry Leenhouts, track 2 written by Michel Meeuwissen & Perry Leenhouts.

Tracks

1. The Longest Wait

2. Beautiful

3. On Through the Night

4. Last Song