Brit popsters Travis head out on a tour to support their upcoming new album 12 Memories, due October 14th, starting with a two night stand at New York's Beacon Theater October 21st and 22nd.

The dozen songs on 12 Memories each refer to a specific episode from frontman Fran Healy's past. For example, the first single "Re-Offender" deals with the spousal abuse he observed firsthand growing up in Glasgow.

"It comes from a conversation I had with my mother," Healy says. "'Mom, why when Dad was being an absolute fuckin' nightmare to you, beating you up all the time, and why did you stay with him?"

While rehearsing for the group's first tour in support of 12 Memories, Travis tried performing the song with a sampled drum track in the intro. It worked -- almost a little too well, according to Healy.

"I don't particularly think the sample thing is a good place to go with Travis," he says. "There's certain samples you put in just to enhance [the song] but I don't like playing to click. Playing to click sucks. It's like dancing with the devil. It takes the human element out."

Travis have also toured with a holster full of cover tunes over the years, including a take on Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes" and Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time," both of which were also released as B sides. Again, Travis plan on playing some covers on this club tour, although Healy, ironically, can't put his finger on which songs exactly.

"I'd written them down because I'd had a drink," he says. "There will be covers, but I don't remember what they are -- but they'll be cool."

Travis tour dates:

10/21-22: New York, Beacon Theater
10/23: Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
10/25: Upper Darby, PA, Tower Theater
10/26: Boston, Orpheum Theater
10/28: Chicago, Riviera Theater
10/29: Detroit, State Theater
10/31: Toronto, Hummingbird Center

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