For ten years, TRAVIS MORRISON Morrison was the lead singer and lyricist of The Dismemberment Plan, the D.C. art-rock quartet that made hip-hop, R&B, samplers, and having fun safe for the basement-show punk set. The Plan’s last two records in particular (Emergency & I, and Change, both released on DeSoto Records) are widely considered to be underground classics.

After releasing the brilliant but critically-underappreciated solo record Travistan, Travis has moved on and found himself a new band to work with, the Hellfighters, and in 2005 they started working on a new record. After some unsatisfactory attempts to get some songs recorded, the Hellfighters took a break and Travis started singing in local D.C. church choirs, and working for volunteer organizations. In 2006, the band came together again and with the help of ex-Dismemberment Plan member Jason Caddell at the helm, the Hellfighters finished recording the songs that would become All Y’All.

STREAM: Travis Morrison Hellfighters :: All Y’All

A few months ago it was announced that THE DISMEMBERMENT PLAN would be performing a reunion show to benefit the mounting bills of Cal Robbins. Cal is the infant son of musician / producer J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Channels) who was recently diagnosed with a Spinal Muscular Atrophy, an incurable and often fatal spinal disease. The show sold out so fast the band added another the night before on Friday.

Always down for a good road trip, we took the 3 1/2 hour drive to the band’s hometown of Washinton, DC to see the show. As we were waiting around the Black Cat getting the lay of the land we noticed many familiar faces. Ben Gibbard was on hand as well as a guy I think may or may not have been on the reality show Beauty And The Geek.

Another familiar face was that of Kim Coletta (Jawbox, DeSoto Records) whom my co-worker/friend Brian briefly talked to. She mentioned to him that there was a “more than better” chance of a Jawbox reunion show to help benefit Cal’s cause. So let’s please keep our fingers crossed for that to happen. (more…)