Travis Denning took us completely off guard at the CMA Songwriters Series in London. His charisma, energy and no nonsense approach to songwriting made us a fan before he left the stage. Now, he is here with his debut EP ‘Beer’s Better Cold’ and it is the collection of songs that we all need to pep us up right now.
Those who have been clued into Travis Denning since his single ‘David Ashley Parker from Powder Springs,’ will have been overdue the excitement of his debut EP ‘Beer’s Better Cold‘ out tomorrow. Those fans will not be disappointed. This is an EP to lift your spirits, buoy you up and get you through the dreaded q-word. Travis Denning has managed to accomplish a beer-drinking, upbeat, humorous debut that avoids the pitfalls of being ‘cheesy’ or ‘bro country.’ It takes an accomplished songwriter to show depth and like-ability in a 6 song EP, where two of the songs have ‘beer’ in the title, but Denning has done just that.
The EP opens with the big belt-along track ‘Where That Beer’s Been.’ It truly feels like Denning has gathered all the energy from his live sets and infused it into the track. The track is a big, bold and bombastic country drinking song, Denning singing about not caring where a beer’s been ‘but knowing where it’s going,’ shouting out various locations in the US, including Milwaukee and Colorado. The track is as witty as later track ‘ABBY’ – the only track that Denning didn’t write on the EP – the clever anthem we all need, post break-up. It was surprising to learn that he hadn’t penned the track, as it fits so seamlessly in the landscape of the rest of the album. Immensely relatable, the tracks lyrics are a hilarious word play, calling out to an ex that he’s moving on. ‘Her name is ABBY, that’s Any-body But You,’ going on to describe her attributes in comparison to the ex. ‘I bet you and her probably won’t get along / She’ll love my beat-up truck and all my old country songs.’ The track is made for a road-trip and live circuit alike. You’d be forgiven for thinking that these tracks would characterise the rest of the EP, yet this is a far more nuanced project than that.
Instantly relatable is ‘After A Few,’ a song about forgetting all the reasons why it wasn’t meant to be ‘after a few.’ Denning’s Southern twang of a vocal soars on this record, and reveals the softer side of his lyricism. It is no surprise that the single has already made it into the top 5 on the country charts. Another quieter moment, reminiscing on a relationship, is provided on later track ‘Tank of Gas and a Radio Song.’ ‘I still see your hand out on the wind / That dashboard blue on your skin… Tank of gas on a radio song / Down to the right and singalong.’ The production gleams in the backdrop here, replete with singing guitar solos, an organic drumbeat and hints of vocoder on Denning’s vocal. Another stunning arrangement is ‘Beer’s Better Cold,’ laying out facts in life ‘Beer’s Better Cold / And she ain’t coming back.’ Denning definitely takes us deeper into his psyche with these tracks, along with the final track on the EP, ‘Sittin’ By a Fire.’ This is most poignant part of the EP and a perfect note to leave us wanting more, connecting with the man himself. From a hefty drinking song to start the record, Denning sits of the way he feels staying at home with his girl and his comfort in home – a fitting track for right now. ‘I ain’t ever felt these chills, sittin’ by a fire.’
If you thought you knew Travis Denning, think again. This EP takes us deeper into his songwriting and his persona, giving us an insight into the man who wrote Michael Ray’s hit ‘Her World or Mine.’ Don’t let the opening track fool you, this EP is sentimental in part and shows a growing maturity and depth in Denning’s songwriting that feels utterly authentic or organic. He is equally at home in these more subdued, personal and quieter songs as he is in the anthemic, stadium-ready drinking songs. Denning has already said that this track is to be part of a longer project, we can’t wait for the day that that one reaches our inbox.
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Standout Track: Beer’s Better Cold
