Once described by the Phoenix New Times as “worth his weight in dynamite,” guitarist/singer/songwriter Travis Brinster has traveled a musical odyssey that has seen him play rock and roll, motown-inspired R&B, funk, downtempo electronic, and alt-country. His latest direction brings him full circle, back to the kind of outlaw-country-rock & roll that he first heard during his youth in North Dakota. He now resides in the San Francisco Bay area.
Biography
Once described by the Phoenix New Times as “worth his weight in dynamite,” guitarist/singer/songwriter Travis Brinster has traveled a musical odyssey that has seen him play rock and roll, motown-inspired R&B, funk, downtempo electronic, and alt-country. His latest direction brings him full circle, back to the kind of outlaw-country-rock & roll that he first heard during his youth in North Dakota.
Travis grew up in the southwest, gaining influences as he traveled from New Mexico to Texas and to Arizona . After playing in a number of locally successful bands in the Phoenix area, Travis was a founding member of the Arizona funk band Polliwog. A 9-piece horn band, Polliwog became one of Arizona 's most popular original bands. The band gained a loyal following for its infectious sound, touring surrounding states for a number of years before calling it quits.
After leaving the group, Travis moved to San Francisco , where he began working on a number of electronic music projects. He also was a DJ, playing and blending an eclectic and often surprising mix of music. Following an injury in a motorcycle crash and unable to carry his records and equipment, Travis began his recuperation with a rebirth of musical direction. Finding inspiration in the country, blues and jazz of the early 20th century Travis once again discovered the joys of songwriting. His latest effort is the Inquilines project, with an "alt-country" sound. From the Roland 303 ending of “Edge of the World” to the quiet, wistful “Mavis Staples,” Travis is at last fusing his disparate styles into an entirely new whole.