No Filler Music Podcast - Touch, Peel, and Burn Out: Days Of The New and the Ego of Travis Meeks

Episode Date: September 15, 2026

In 1997, a teenager from Indiana named Travis Meeks took acoustic guitar, heavy alternative rock, and pure brooding intensity to the top of the charts with Days Of The New’s self-titled debut album (often known as Yellow). But behind the massive radio singles and multi-platinum success was a band on the brink of complete collapse driven by Meek's massive ego, substance abuse struggles, and relentless compulsion to control every note. Join us as we dive into the genius and tragedy of Days Of The New. We break down their iconic 1997 debut and explore a couple of tracks from their follow-up (Green) to glimpse a hint of the grand, experimental direction Meeks was desperately trying to take the project before it all unraveled. Tracklist: Touch, Peel And Stand Face Of The Earth Now Where I Stand Bring Yourself Take Me Back Then Not The Same Shelf In The Room Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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free of charge. BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario. Welcome to No Filler. This is Travis speaking. Damn it. This is Travis speaking. Oh, man, that's great. That's great.

All right. Let me start. Try again, dude. Tramis speaking. All right, let's do it again. Welcome to No Filler, the music podcast dedicated to sharing the often overlooked hidden gems to fill the space between the singles on our favorite records. My name is Travis. I got my brother Quentin.

And we got Mitchell here. Howdy, outy, outy. Boys, they've just been dying to share these tunes. So we're talking about Days of the New today, where we're going to cover songs from their first and second record. Cool. But yeah, that song was massive. It was, it was called Touch, Peel, and Stand.

That was their biggest hit. It was a top 10, so it did chart. Had to. I heard it so much when I was a boy. Yeah, I did. This is, in 2021, Billboard named that song, the greatest of all time mainstream rock song. Whoa, what?

No, I don't know about that, billboard. That's quite the claim. And kind of random. I would have guessed like a foo fighters track or something. But they're saying, I'm curious, the context and stuff, but yeah, mainstream. Mainstream rock. It's weird, isn't it? I'm not going to deny that it's a great track, but that's pushing it.

But yeah, anyway, I'm sure if you were somebody listening to rock radio back in the 90s, you probably remember the song. Spencer had this CD, I believe, and that's where I remember hearing it. That's our older brother. But that's, yeah, that's our older brother for those new to the pod. But, yeah, I never listened to this record up until the last few years. And it's phenomenal. And did they kind of like, did they kind of just die down as far as popularity goes after this? Is this a one-hit wonder?

It's a one-album wonder, is what people say. Because they had a couple more singles on the record. But there's the story of Days of the News, really the story of the lead singer. And, like, he had all sorts of struggles and was, sounds like an absolute ass wipe of a human being. In terms of, like, he was a dick to his bandmates. He was like, like, he would get into arguments on stage with them and, like, berate them and stuff, like, on. stage. Well, there you go. Anyway, but he's a musical genius and we'll get into that a little bit. Yeah. Well, let me just say this, dude. So as I was saying in the chat, like, I didn't pick up on

it right away. Like I didn't recognize it right. And I, you know, I kind of half jokingly say that, you know, this is just generic 90s grunge riffs. But then, man, there's some complex stuff going on. And I know, I'm sure Trave we're going to get into it. But that's the theme of this freaking record. And him as a musician, very complex. Like he is, you could almost say that he's like, he's like, He's like a frigging or something like that. So is this one of those like Julian Casablanca's situations

or he wrote every single? Okay. Yep. So every instrument is him. Yeah, well, he wrote all the songs. It's not like a Dave Grohl first Food Fighters record

where he recorded every instrument. Like he had these guys in the studio with him and they were recording. But he wrote all the songs. And he was like, when this record came out, they had just got out high school, which is crazy.

These guys were young pups. So these guys are from Louisville, Kentucky. So maybe some cred there. I'll give you the quick lineup here. I don't know if I even mentioned his name, but lead singer is Travis Meeks. And then you've got Todd Whitener on a guitar, Jesse Vest on bass and Matt Tall on drums. So the band, the lineup was short-lived in terms of like they toured and stuff. They did the record, and then he sort of like ended the band and kept making music under Days of the New.

But those three guys, the other three band members, went on to, to form a group called Tantric. And they had like a couple of singles and stuff. So like they, that name rings a boat. Yeah, they had a song, you might recognize just the name of it, if I say it. There was a song that they came out with called Breakdown. It was a pretty bad song. I'm going to just put that out there. But anyway, I'm just saying they went on to have.

not much success, but they did have. Yeah, so it sounds like Travis Meeks was really the creative force behind. Oh, yes, absolutely. So, like, the story is he had a musician father who... Like Casablanca. Well, just, yeah, just like... To keep that go, quick. How many times?

Basically, the way his dad says it, so apparently he had a volatile upbringing. And, like, his dad, like, left his mom, like, when they were, he was pretty young. but then like he like went to his dad at some point and lived with his dad for a little bit but like his dad had a recording setup at home and this is a quote that the way his dad phrased it is whenever Travis would get all whacked out he would go into this room and record these acoustic tracks so basically like music was like therapy like his like therapy and his way of communicating and stuff like that so like from an early age like in his blood like music playing acoustic guitar forever.

Sounds like a form of escapism then if it was a bad upbringing. Yes. And apparently he had Asperger's and like was entrenched in drugs at a young age. Damn. Listen to this. In and out of treatment centers between the age of 11 and 15. Yeah, that's crazy. Anyway.

But yeah. So that's also kind of the story of this dude is, you know, drugs haunted him for his whole life. That's kind of, I guess if you want to say that like this guy was kind of like a prodigy type dude where like he put all of his focus and stuff into music to like escapeism, right, that kind of thing. So him and two of the three band members met and formed an experimental rock groove metal band called Dead Reckoning, which is a band that's fucking name. And they were influenced by Pantera and Metallica. And that's one of the things that you're going to hear for sure. when you listen to the way he sings,

he was definitely influenced vocally by Hatfield a little bit. You're going to hear some of that. And he also gets compared to Allison Chains, Lane's, Lane's Daly, and stuff like that. To me, I've always seen this record as like the acoustic songs that you hear

on Black album, you know, like Unforgiven and stuff like that, and like the acoustic Allison Chains tracks on Jar Flies and stuff like that. But if a band did an entire album, of that kind of stuff. It's going to be a song, happy episode. So let's just jump right into the first track. This album came out in 1997, I believe. Yeah, 1997. Days of the News, self-titled record. It is referred to as the yellow record, because it's yellow, and all of their albums are self-titled.

Here you go. We're going to play this first track here. This song is called Face of the Earth. I wonder who came first. Lane Staley or him? I mean, I know that Staley. Staley was early. I know that like 94 was what? Dirt? I mean, yeah, I mean, Alice Chase's going back to the 80s.

Yeah, so he had to have heard him, right? Oh, yeah. No, yeah, there's no doubt about it. The artwork reminds me of it, the pictures, the band promo pictures. Dude, even, even, I mean, not that this is, I don't want to jump to conclusion here, but I mean, he does say the word dirt in this song. confirmed but confirmed that being said it still stands on its own it just not he just like man what a shadow to try and i mean you it's just unfortunately his singing range is kind of like that too right

i doubt it's just like he's just like he's mimicking him so it's just like the thing too is like he you know he had been writing these songs like probably like as a like in high school and stuff sure yeah they're both treble blads jesus yeah but um his musicianship is what kind of makes these guys stand out And, like, his harmonies and, like, his, uh, his acoustic melodies and stuff like that. And that's, that's why I hear, like, that's, and that's probably why a lot of people compare them to Allison Chains is because that's what made Allison Chains is Staley and Jerry Cantrell's, like, harmonizing together. Yeah.

Yeah, for sure. Like, that's what made them so dope. Yeah, I love these lyrics, man. He's talking about, like, just, like, he's feeling like he's being stepped all over, you know, like, I'm the face of the earth, like, you're stepping on me, you know, and shove me in a shoe. Yeah, break me down, shove me in a shoe, put it on. and walk on me all day.

He's probably talking about his dad. You know what I mean? The fucking asshole. Right. But yeah, so what's interesting, obviously the other guy, the other guitar player is playing acoustic guitar alongside him. Apparently, like, you know, when they formed, they were trying to do a band that was

like thrash metal, you know, Pantera and Metallica. And that's what his bandmates were, like, that kind of music they were wanting to make. But then he wanted to pivot to acoustic and, like, sort of convinced them to like join him in that. It's hard to sing your emotional lyrics over thrash metal. Right. Right. Yeah.

No, that's true. But like apparently like he's saying that he had to teach the other guitar player how to play acoustic, which I guess. I'm sure he taught him real good considering that he was an asshole to his. Well, panmates. Yeah. Apparently like, yeah, he was just, he just had a massive ego on him. But it's just interesting to think that like, you know, this was such like his

vision that he had to like drag the bandmates along with him. Right. To be like, let me teach you how to play acoustic because we're going to have fucking acoustic guitars on this record. Yeah. And like, teach the drummer to like be a little bit more like subdued and stuff.

Because if you're a metal drummer and you're like, I like Metallica and Pantera, can we do some of that? Well, it wasn't, it was actually like an interesting drumbeat too. Like, it's a good drummer,

yeah. I like to pretend like I know about time signatures, but you know, it felt like it, it felt, you know, different than what you would expect on, like even just another grunge record from the 90s.

Yeah, it stands on its own. You can tell us get closer to the millennium. Right. I was thinking that too. I don't want it to take the wrong way, but we're starting to flirt with like the, again, don't take it the wrong way. We're starting to flirt with like that butt rock sound, which is like creed and stained and disturbed.

Yeah. Which just comes along in the late 90s, early 2000s, right? Like, we're a few steps away from. We are. It's been a while since I, uh, you know what I mean? And I'm not thin as a dig, but I can see how it's going to getting there as the, years go by in the 90s to the 2000s. Right.

I do have a question, though, Mitch. But rock, did you make that up? No, definitely not. I've heard that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I like that term, and I like the term jock jams. Like, you remember the talking to get flayed at like reunion arena, you know, like, yeah, yeah, although it's kind of, anyway. So it's different than, Allison Chains is kind of pigeonholed.

That's, this is different. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it's still firmly, like, this is a 90s sound. Yeah, no doubt. No doubt, bro.

Yeah, I can fill my jeans developing holes like in knees and like fraying on the bottom. You know what I mean? Like, where did my sleeves on my shirt go? It really transports you back to like not just my personal life, but like the feeling of the 90s. Yeah, no doubt. Especially that. Dude, that one hit that they're, the charted top 10, you said, that was named whatever by the, that immediately, I'm immediately back like in the PS1 era, bro.

Like I'm there. Yes. I'm there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because it was a big hit, touch peel and stand. That's what it was called.

Yeah, that's huge. When you played it, I was like, oh, wow, I should have, this would have been like a $1,000 jeopardy clue or something. And I would have been like, I don't know. But now I know days of the new. Like, I've thought about that song and forever. No, me either. And it's definitely going to go like on certain playlists of mine because that's a great.

I love that riff in that song. Yeah. Does that song make it to, and I'm sorry to put the final nail on the coffin boys, but, you know, the classic rock radio stations now? It does now. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, I hear that song. I hear Green Day.

after Zeppelin, you know? It'll be like... But does Days of the New make it? Are they remembered? If there's a song that would make it, it be this one? I don't know. It's kind of obscure. I think it's one of those things where probably a lot of people know this song.

Right. Just like you guys, both of you. You're like, oh, yeah, duh. But is it making the rounds on the radio stations? Who cares? I'm not saying like it matters either way, but... But they were definitely... It was a hit, I mean, for sure.

Yeah. They sold 1.5 million copies of the record. I don't know how that compares to like... Or what that... What that means in money and dudes market, right? If he's still struggling or if that feeds into future, you know, resentments with the band and the label and blah, blah, blah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. But I'm, yeah, no doubt it was a, I don't know where it peaked, but like I said, it was top 10. They performed on Letterman and stuff. So they had their moment, you know. Yeah, that's big. There you go. Yeah. So once again, of course, no surprise here, Billboard put it on number one back in 97.

So, like, decades later they're like, this is, we're going to stop. stand by that. This is the best mainstream rock song of all time. I still think it's a little strange, but... That's heavy, heavy title, man. A little strange, yeah, a little odd. That would be hard to come up with what I would put number one, like the mainstream.

Yeah, of what era, man. They're saying of all times. You're leaving out of the 60s and 70s. Come on, guys. All right, let's move on to the next track. Now, this track, I'm just going to say that it blooms in a way that's going to, you guys are going to, you're going to erupt.

Does it blossom, time? It's a creeper, one might say. You could say it, yeah, it blossoms for sure. But I'm going to, there's going to be two clips for this because there's an amazing solo that happens that I want to let, let breathe. So we're going to do. This is off the same record? Same record.

Their first record? I've got, I've got two more tracks off their first record. and then we got two tracks off their second record. And their second record is way different. And this is one of the reasons that they probably kind of faded. He faded because by that time, he'd already kick the other guys out. Anyway. Oh, shit.

Okay. Right. All right, here we go. So this is a track called Now. He's pretty emo boys. They just kind of like growled it out to like kind of keep that macho masculine. Like, you know, I'm not sissy because I'm singing about how I feel because I'm real sad. He's like, ugh, but, you know, it's so sad.

I mean, it's, it is funny to think that, like, these guys were teenagers, or he was a teenager. Yeah, that's fair. That's fair. And when peaking it, like, my God, before you can even buy a beer legally, probably. Yeah, he was like 17, I think is what they said. And, like, you know, he's going, he's trying to escape his asshole dad. It's like, he's going to this recording studio room. Yeah.

And make this song. Yeah, I'm sure he didn't click with a lot of the, a lot of the local culture, too, in Kentucky or Indiana and wherever the hell he, you know, they first try to come up. It's a little different than like that grunching in the Pacific Northwest where it's kind of embraced that, you know. Yeah, totally. But man, yeah, he's got great pipes.

I'm looking at him. He's like a skinny bloke, super handsome. Kind of looks like he'd be a dickhead, you know. He's got that kind of facial hair set up, you know. But he's got a great voice, powerful voice for like what looks like a tiny guy. I can't believe I'm blanking on the name. What's the sound garden guy? Oh, Chris Cornell.

Yeah, he's got a Chris Cornell look to him kind of. Yeah, yeah, kind of Chris Cornell. Now, hang on a second. Chris Cornell is as handsome as, I don't know, that dude. He doesn't get much more handsome than that. No, no. Holy shit, that guy's incredible. But anyways, yeah.

Black hole son, you know what I mean? All right, well, yeah, let's pick it up where we left off here because there's a phenomenal. A guitar cell that you will. Well, not hear in any other grunge song or rock song. Like, this is probably the first one that sounded like this. I'll tell you that right. Yeah. All right, there you go.

So we're picking back up. Here is the next part of the song now. I love that. It sounded like it hurt to play. Like it hurt your fingers to play that shit. Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah, that might have been like a classical guitar that came in there for a little bit. Yeah.

But it wasn't too much either. It was complicated sounding, but it was nice. Still chill. Here's like part of their story here. Like where do you place them? Because that's the problem. When they have a song like this, so the reason I'm bringing this up, they, so that, you know, with this album, they had some success and they did a tour where they opened for Metallica.

And Jerry Cantrell had some sort of, I think it was called the Jerry Cantrell Band or something like that. So I think, I think Lane Staley died at this point. But Cantrell was making music. It was like Metallica and Jerry Cantrell, so they opened for them. And like Travis Meeks, the lead singer of Data the New, was like not happy about that, which is weird because he... Not happy that he got to tour with Metallica. Because he didn't think that they fit and like that this would be the wrong audience. Well, he's not wrong, but it's also like if you've already accepted it, if your management did that or you did, then I mean, you're not going to go.

Let's try this, though. Let's say they didn't open for Taliaguer. Who do you think they would? They'd be a better fit to open for it. And I'll tell you what he said, because it's kind of funny. Who, what, who? Travis Meeks, what the, what the, so the, you know, presser or whatever he was doing when he was saying this,

you know, he thought that it would have been a better, better for them to tour with a band like Dave Matthew's band. He's not wrong, dude. He's not wrong. See? But that's what, I think he was saying that, like, yeah, hey, I love. Metallica and stuff and I grew up listening to him but I don't think that my audience But Dave Matthew's people are kind of

I mean my and this is my Especially the jam type song Yeah Yeah They're a lot more like optimistic I think that Matthews fans You know what I mean Or fucking counting crows or some shit

It's weird that they got grouped in with Metallica Like I guess it's because it's like Some of it's a little bit heavy I'm not playing all It's angsty That's because he's you know He's talking about And he talked to God tell him

I said fuck you basically Right yeah kind of shit. But yeah, it's not, yeah, it's not all angsty and stuff. There's some a little bit of uplifting songs here and there. Like, those last one I'm played from this record, there's a little bit more of an uplifting. No, I mean, I have my son moments.

I don't want that to be that what seems like my take from it either is, but the dude is certainly, and in this era, and if he's pulling from when he was younger, then yeah, he's very full of angst. Yeah. Which is not the vibe for Dave Matthews show. It's like, bro. Yeah. Metallica's way cooler anyways, bro.

Are you kidding me? tour with Metallica. I think the fans, the fans align more with, the Metallica fans would align more with this. It's easier sell for that. Yeah, I think the problem that he had is a, he had, he had, he had these like big visions of what the band could be, which is what the second album starts to get into. So we'll like get into that here a second. Anyway, all right, so I think the lyrics on this song are great. So we're going to jump to the next track. This is the last track we're going to play from this record. This song is called Where I Stand. Awesome track, man. My favorite for sure. Yeah, I wanted to end it on a good one for this record because it gets different.

I like the pacing of his delivery. Very cool. It's almost chant like and just different, you know, in a way. But loud, too, he's singing with power for sure. Yeah, the dude's got pipes like you were saying. But, yeah, the lyrics are great, man. He's saying some of us play life like a board game. It's new and fun.

You play with people. And then you get tired, you put it away. And then one day you get it out. And the pieces are broken. Oh, yeah. Or it's missing a piece. It feels like that all the time. I can't play now.

It's missing a piece. I got to play it differently. You embrace life and all that stuff. And then like you, you know, you get a job. You have kids. And then like suddenly like you wake up and it's like, oh, well, now I can't really enjoy life like I used to. You know what I mean? I'm ready to enjoy life.

But I'm like, you know, I'm in my 60s or something like that. And I don't have energy that I used to. I have health problems. And oops, now life is over. You know what I mean? You didn't enjoy it while you had it. You know, that's kind of the take I was getting from it. Yeah, but I think he answers his own kind of like his own question there about, you know, the repetition and he's tired of it.

But then he says self-discipline. He wants to feel that. And I think that's the answer right there. Self-discipline, if you can delay instant gratification for a little bit longer, one more cigarette, one more cheeseburger or whatever, another whatever, right? Then you're there. Right. but it's hard to do it's really hard to do

because it's day in and day out yeah totally every day so maybe if you take it for moments to moment but yeah that did have a little bit more of a definitely not as but the guitar is still like so intricate not to the point where it's like

noodling around and I'm like it pairs well but it's so intricate it's like Baroque almost you know what I'm talking about like overly fancy filigree yeah and that that plays in perfectly to the next record like he's got a very wide range. He's got classical

kind of influence. He's got like some like a lot of sort of like like that the main guitar riff was very country, you know? Oh yeah. The opening of it absolutely sounded like something like I'd hear from Copperhead Road or I'm waiting for a yeah, a line from on a steel horse I ride from like John Bon Jovi or something.

Right, right. Yeah, dude. And that's not a dig but yeah, it's there. It's there, bro. And the guitar solo from the last song was very like classical guitar almost. So like he's very well trained, I guess. If that's him singing and playing at the same time, that's awesome. I mean, and writing those licks and then writing lyrics to go with it, that's badass.

Yeah, because like you were saying, like, he wrote all these songs. I don't think Lane was doing that. I know Staley, he was kind of, I mean, he's a frontman. He was kind of a dickhead dude, especially like Dave Mustang and stuff. But if this dude's writing and playing, that's pretty awesome. And Staley never played guitar. Yeah, he's his frontman energy. Yeah, yeah.

Those guys are always kind of like, I like him. But it's also like, come on, man. Why you get all the love. Right, exactly. All right. So here's what happened to the band. So he was an asshole, like I said earlier. And so, like, he was just like...

Like, 97-98. They're done touring. Pretty much. Like, but... So while the band members are still in the band, he is, like, talking to the press or, like, I guess, giving interviews and stuff. And he's just being like, yeah, you know, I think I'm just going to fire them.

Like, he would just say it to the press or whatever. Before them. Ugh. Before they were even out. And then, like, you know, they dissolved and stuff. And then he would, apparently somebody found, like, he got on some, like, fan chat room or what are they called boards? Yeah. Message board.

Yeah. Message boards. Some kind of thread you would post them to it. And he was, like, apologizing to his fans for giving them the impression that Days of the New was a band to begin with. Oh. It's like, come on. So emo, dude. As in like, like, it's been me the whole time.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. I see. full of himself. That's rich. And he was saying like the guys were, the other guys were jealous of him because they were just thrown down. He wrote all the songs.

Yeah, that's it. Yeah. Anyway. So, yeah. But he continues to make music under the band. It's funny that he didn't just go by Travis Meeks. He still went by the name, Jay's of the new. But I mean, you know, that's a shame because if he had changed and pivoted to a new

name, it probably might have helped some, you know, because people are like, wait, this isn't the same thing as that one song I like. But, yeah, this next record is really interesting, though. Like, I'll give them that. So I'm just going to read this Rolling Stones call out here. He said that the material, talking about the second record, was injected with lush orchestration, Middle Eastern and experimental vocals, which did not mesh with the band's Metallica-esque sensibility. So again, whatever.

The industry is putting them in the Metallica bucket, which I think is weird. But I mean, whatever. And then the manager of the band went on to say, he said, when you hear the, the new music, you'll understand why those guys had to split, like the other bandmates. It doesn't rock towards the metal influences. It doesn't sound like they had a choice, but go ahead. Right, right. It's more symphonic, and those guys didn't want to be limited by that.

So anyway, that's just to kind of tee it up here. Like, this is, like, he wanted to be really big with this record. And, like, he almost, like, got ahead of himself. So what I'm hearing is, is he did Metallica's S&M before Metallica did S&M trows. You might be, dude, you might be a writer about that. Matalica looks at him and they're like not hanging on to say Yeah

No there's no way there's no way that Metallica gonna win like What's this guy from Kentucky doing? Right Dickhead and complain the whole time he opened for us A complete asshole Yeah I'm gonna do a

I'm gonna do a Mulligan Mulligan no I'm gonna do a A Mullica So what color do you call this record Does he go by that or is it just called two? It's called It's called Days of the New Days of the New 2

Because it's the second record People refer to it as the green record because it's got a green cover on it. But yeah, the tree stays on every record. Like it's a tree. Yeah. That's a motif that I've seen in not just the record covers, but other shit, too. Yeah. So, but yeah, this one's referred to as green. Came out in 1999. So we're almost at the 2000s. I'm going to pull a audible. That's the word I was looking for earlier. And I'll play a different track that I first wanted to play. Because I just wanted this to be in the forefront, like how different this sound was. So here we go. All right, we're going to jump to 1999, second record. And

record. This song is called Bring Yourself. All right. I just wanted to play a short clip of that, just so you guys can get the feel. And then I'm going to play the song. I was actually going to. But yeah, anyway, so different. Out of left field, you know, compared to like where they came from. What's obvious, like, at the forefront is those vocals, right, the female vocals. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. On the background there. And so this, this singer, her name is Nicole Serginger, Surgeon's or something like that

I don't probably didn't pronounce that right but apparently she went on to be a member of the pussycat dolls Sam she had much more fame than he'd Hang on a second you're telling me that don't you think your girlfriend is not like that band Is that the pussy guy dog? I'm almost

positive Travis now Is that the government don't like me? That's the person got dog don't you? Yes that's an insane link I mean it doesn't surprise me I guess.

So she was born in Hawaii, raised in Louisville, Kentucky. So there you go. There's a connection. That gives me a whole new respect for the pussycat dolls. I'm going to tell you that right now. I'm still trying to figure out. I'm almost positive. It is, because that would be in that time.

Oh, yeah, no, right. Of course I am. By don't you? It's don'tcha. Don't you. Sorry, I'm going by Sir Nix a lot. Don't say that again. I'm a lose it, man.

Don'tcha. Featuring the Buster rhymes. Oh, man. That's incredible. Too bad. They couldn't get him up on the track. All the Travis Meeks on a one or two, maybe he'd have been a good crossover.

Yeah, anyway, that was, yeah, that is crazy, right? Like, she's on this record. That's ridiculous. But yeah. So it's a different sound. Cool. Yeah, when you look at the personnel, you know, he's got a full orchestra on it. He's got a choir on this band on this record.

Okay, so he's bringing in musicians, right? Percussion. Yeah, arrangements, yeah. Okay. So did he not tour after this? Is this kind of like a Beatles situation? Possibly. So like, he continued, he would go on to like play shows by himself.

Because why would you even want to play in his band? He couldn't do it, man. He couldn't do it because like, apparently they tried to do a reunion and immediately it just didn't work. He would, he would show up late to the shows. Again, he would berate. Dude. Like, yeah, anybody who's going to turn around and like start yelling at your bandmates during the show while you got people in the crowd trying to listen and enjoy your music it's like dude come on now

yeah but yeah and why is a band making just to stick around or some shit yeah exactly but you know he's a you can't met he's a genius cue what do you want from him he's a troubled artist yeah he's a trouble too you know

did he ever wear berets I bet he wore berets so all right let me let me play the track we got we got two more tracks um all right here we go so I just wanted to hitch with the inya vibes oh I already feel much more green like the record like the color of the record I really did.

Truly. Yeah, yeah. All right, here we go. This song is called Take Me Back Then. Talk S&M, dude. You nailed it, Mitch. Yeah, with a banjo thrown in. Yeah.

Or some kind of different sounding guitar. Yeah. Sounds a tune different or something. I don't know, man. Yeah, you're right, dude. You didn't really let the drummer do much there. But apparently there's two drummers on the record. You mentioned that, but no one can read our chat.

But yeah, some of those drum fills out of place to me. Like, the guy was just like bored or whatever behind this kid. It was a little stomp clappy. But yeah, yeah. It's just what happens. I'm sorry, there's, okay, there's four drummers listed on this record. That doesn't mean all four of them are playing on one track. Of course not, of course.

I'm just saying that's kind of funny. And it's funny because the drummer from the original lineup is listed. So it's funny. Let me say this, though. That kind of tracks, though, with the guy that's like a perfectionist kind of dude. Yeah, that's true. have this drummer for this song. Got to have a different drummer for this one.

That's true, man. He probably was a perfectionist, I bet, no doubt. But, yeah, again, like, with the really interesting, like, I don't think that's a full choir behind him, whatever, but, like, the female vocalists, again, Nicole behind the strings. The strings. Yeah, the orchestra behind them. He's still choosing to do the kind of, the tough guy, Raspi, like, as he called Quinn the

Hatfield. And it sounds out of place. Does he do that on the first record, Moore, Trave, on the yellow? Does he kind of, is that? There's a lot more. Yeah. I mean, that makes sense. It's not like something he picked up.

For the longest time, when I had my track list picked out for this episode, I was going to play nothing but tracks from the first record. But I wanted to really show you guys, like, where he went with it because it's really interesting. Yeah. And his last song is my favorite song on the screen record. It's really good. So. Well, I don't blame you, Chab.

You're getting one pass here at these guys. Yeah, because we're not coming back to this. It's going to stick at me for sure, especially that one hit one. I mean, that's a, I can see why that reached so big, but the guy's a riff machine. He's a fucking riff machine. Yeah, no doubt. Yeah. But that touch peel and stand is like on every, it should be on every 90s playlist.

Yeah, that's like, that should be on some sleeper 90s grungy alt playlist, man, for sure. Yeah. All right. So here we go. I'm my last track here. So it's a great, great track, man. This might be one of my favorites of theirs. Here we go.

This song is called Not the Same. Really interesting. I feel like he just, he was too ambitious with it, man. Like he just, like, he tried to do so much and like it just kind of gets lost and like money to stuff. But yeah, it's really interesting. Like the timing of it all, Travis. It's giving me some Brian Wilson vibes. You know what I mean?

Yeah, sure. If he's a bit earlier and he's right in the pocket with Allison change in the grunge movement, maybe he gets more motion. And like, he is headlining his own thing and he doesn't have to play with a metal band, right? Right. Because I can hear the 2000s coming in the way that song. the way he sings and the content and just the kind of like angsty leather clad dad rock that's coming. You know what I mean? I can hear that.

But without any of that awesome guitar work that he has, or obviously the love or the commitment he has to pouring his heart out, you know what I mean? So I'm not saying that this is, I'm not demeaning it in any kind of way with that, but I can feel that coming. So it's like he's stuck, dude. Between those to that kind of changing time. You know what I mean? Like, are you going to be as popular as Matchbox 20? Probably not because you're not like, you're not happy sounding. But, okay, so we're going to link you in with Metallica, you know, because you're sad and aggressive.

But are you heavy enough for Metallica? But then he wants to have an orchestra or a little part of his some strings. And how do you tour with that? There's no place to go for the guy. You know what I mean? Right. And then Lane dies. So it's like he's in Cobain and all the heroes.

They die of those tragic deaths that are like storybook ending, not maybe a good storybook, but storybook all the same. right? So it's like, he just doubles down on that lifestyle of a loner and I'm, it's only my way, you know, and then the time keeps going. His addictions and stuff just like also just kept him from like, because clearly the guy was a talent and like he wrote, like he could have done soundtracks. He could have done all sorts of shit. He could have rid of that. Yeah. Well, just do so just do a solo you and your guitar record. Yeah. I would listen to that. Yeah. And that's what, like, he continued to make music and like play shows and stuff as just Travis Meeks, like as himself or whatever. I was just lost to time at that point.

It's a unique, like, intricate guitar style that gives me, you know, taste of, like, tenacious D stuff. It's awesome. Yeah, it's awesome. And then he comes in and it takes over. His emotional delivery takes over for me. That's the lasting flavor for me of it, which is not always my favorite flavor, but I do like it, especially on some of the earlier stuff he played. Yeah, I think that third track now, I think that was.

Yeah, that was. Yeah, that one. Third track was where I stand. Maybe that one or now, both of those. Anyways. Yeah. I can see why you wanted to talk about them around Blind Mellon when we were talking about Blind Mellon and we were in that 90s pocket.

I could see why you wanted to talk about them after even Lonesome Shack. I can really see that. It's just a record that kind of like this band, especially their first record. Like when you put it amongst all the other 90s grunge and post grunge stuff, like it just stands out. It does. Yeah. It's a really interesting album.

And like I would agree with that track. The record is worth listening to. Like it's a whole, it's a mood. The whole thing is like that. And there's some really interesting songs that happen. And then if you want to go on a trip, they'll listen to the rest of the second record. Because like, there's like back-to-back instrumental songs.

Or just listen to this real quick. Listen to this crap. What the hell is this? Right. That's just a track on the record. I don't know. Like I said, man, Brian Wilson, you know, like when he was, or to put it, you know, with walk hard, you know, that part of the movie.

He's got like a goat on the record or whatever. Yeah, like he just had to, he's, his brain just couldn't keep up with it, man. You know what I mean? Like, he's probably like, yeah, just this like madman in the studio, I've been like, I know what I'm going to do. Whatever the fuck is. Yeah, but they all come out as like the guy around the campfire. who's had way too many bush lights and is like quit bombing all my cigarettes, bro.

I mean, your guitar licks are awesome, but it's just all over cut off, man. This to me is the music that's playing at your weed dealer's house and you're forced to listen to it until he busts up the scale. Especially if you're like in Indiana or Kentucky or like Texas or something. I probably couldn't. And he's like, yeah, man, you heard of these guys, you're fucking sick. You're at Days of the New? Yeah. This is Days of the New.

Two. Well, he like made the Pussy Cat Dolls, dude. Right, right. And by the way, he claims that, well, she just wasn't very musically talented. That's why he moved on from her. Oh, yeah, of course. The Pussy Cat Dolls girl. Yeah, that he says that they had a fling, but they had to move on.

Oh, of course. I'm sure. Dude, this guy probably thinks every girl is in it. Yeah, it's true. It's true. Probably. Listen to this one. Like what? Oh, no.

Completely different. Oh, no. Oh, no. There's the accuser guitar, so he's bringing that in at least. He's got himself looped. This was a single. I don't know. I don't know.

It's like he won't pick, he won't like lean into the alt-country vibe. Do it. B. Hank the third. Do it. Just embrace that. You can't have the best of both. You can't be grungy, McPoet. You can't be, but it's like you have to.

You're from the country in Indiana or Illinois, wherever the fuck you said. And you're coming up in Kentucky. Yeah. Like, yeah, it's embrace that fully. And you would have been a lot more popular and probably, like, found. Not that they weren't popular. Obviously, they were fucking huge.

This doesn't make sense to me. Somebody over a billboard must have liked him. Because it says apparently that that song reached number two on the U.S. That's the greatest country song of all time. But apparently it was at number two on the Billboard mainstream rock tracks. That's the same, bro. Now, we were in a weird time in the 90s like that. Remember, we're just a few maybe years away from Kid Rocks.

Oh, God, dude. And that song will play right after. And I wouldn't be surprised on the Spotify playlist if that song you just played plays before any Kid Rock song of that era, right? But Rock City. Canada Rock alternative, number one. Anyway, so, yeah, he just, he didn't know what lane to be in, you know. He's a mix of stuff, man. like Casablanca's is like New York.

Yeah. Well, wealthy. True. This kid, this guy's guy, he's definitely like the shirt's coming off, boys, for the show. Yeah. And it's so twangy. The guitar sound is so fucking twangy that it catches my ear, without a doubt. Yeah. Now, can you guys see the screen?

Yeah. Here's what happened to him. Oh, Jesus Christ. Yeah, that's his mugshot. I mean, now, you're never going to look the best in a mugshot. say that from Philly. That's meth right there. So anyway, that was like within the last few years.

So he's, he didn't make it out of the addiction, obviously. But anyway, like, it's just irony, ironic because he was singing about self-discipline just, you know, a few years earlier. And that's how you play the game of life with self-discipline. He just didn't have it, man.

Because, like, self-discipline would have had him make a more cohesive, a freaking record on number two. Maybe or not be a jerk to anybody that's trying to help you make your art. Yeah, and I'm not, that's the thing. I'm not really talking about the self-discipline for like the drug, the drug addict.

Yeah, it's just like, yeah. Yeah, it's true. Anyway, it's kind of a tragic story because he could have been, like, people kind of talk about Travis Meeks is like the sort of like this tragic story of like, what could have been? I was perusing through Reddit, yeah. Yeah, and that's the main takeaway is

like talented dude. What could have come? out of that guy if he had just, you know. But I mean, I think I had Asperger's and stuff and a tough upbringing. So, like, you know, the carters attacked against him or whatever. But anyway. He got some sweet roofs out there. That's for sure, bro.

He sure did. Well, there you go. Those days of the new. I would recommend listening to the first record. It's a no-filler record. It's really good from start to finish if you want to be in that kind of headspace. Oh, that's a great kickoff 90s grunge. Put that on and then go into, you know.

More 90s grunt shit. Yeah, I'm glad this made it to no filler, for sure. Yeah, we'll close out with Shelf in the Room, which was their other big hits. With Pussy Cat on? Please. We'll close with Don't You. Yeah, Shelfth is a dope song, too, man. This fucking album's great, man.

That's all I'm going to say. You guys got to listen to this record. It's a, dude, this is a lawn mowing record cue for sure. For sure, dude. I probably listened to this in my Walkman. I feel like it's more like it. Like you're painting your house or something or like wrenching on the car, you know, working on your hog. Hey, whatever kind of work ends with a cold beer.

Dude, this guy doesn't even drink him cold. He didn't even give a fuck. He's just like drinking hot, you know? He's that, he's that angsty. I don't know if this is like a hidden track, but apparently there's a track on here called the Boner track. See, now the 90s had that. It was a tinge of that goofiness. They thought it would sell, you know?

Like where the last song was an extra 10 minutes long of silence and you had to. And then it's Green Day. I was all by myself. I was thinking of you. Have you heard that one, Travis? Green Day's. Yeah, exactly. No, dude.

That's how he sings it. Oh, my God. Well, that's a tangent of tangents. On Duky, there's a secret track called All By Myself. And it's about what you think it's about. And he sings in a goofy voice. Anyways. Those are the times, man.

Yeah, hidden tracks. Those were the times, bro. Easter eggs on the end of CDs. Those were the fucking times. All right, so let's wrap it up. Thanks as always for listening. You can check us out on the Pantheon podcast network. You can reach out to us on Instagram.

And yeah, so maybe if we say it early enough, they'll start sending us in their picks. But we did this once, and we actually got some engagement. If you have a list that you're keeping to yourself of your favorite tracks of 2026, send it to us on Instagram. and as we get closer to our end of the year episodes, like I said, I'm putting this out there early. We can maybe share some tracks from listeners on our outros for those last four episodes of the year. But anyway, so yeah, Instagram,

if you want to search for No Filler podcast and reach out to us there. So, yeah, we'll have what you heard come out in September, and then we'll do something. We don't know what it's going to be. Maybe electronic, maybe metal, maybe another shoegaze. episode, who knows. All right. Again, thanks as always for listening. I'm Travis and I'm Quentin. My name's Mitchell. See you later.