Big mistake.

After a spirited 90-minute performance Tuesday at Kingsbury Hall, Travis had me digging up albums (a couple of them old cassette tapes) and acknowledging that his traditional country ballads - and attractive baritone sound - had been "too gone, too long" from my personal playlist.

Travis opened with some of the sentimental, toe-tapping tunes that made him a country favorite in the 1980s, including "Deeper Than the Holler," "Look Heart, No Hands" and "I Told You So."

He transitioned easily into a trio of more recent gospel songs, including "Angels," which he said "brings back memories of my mother," as well as "Raise Him Up" and "Pray for the Fish," both from the "Rise & Shine" album, which won a Grammy for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel.

Even for people who don't often branch into the genre, Travis' Christian-themed songs are accessible and heartfelt. A perfect example is the crossover hit "3 Wooden Crosses," which topped country charts when it was released in 2002 and earned Travis the first of two standing ovations from an appreciative Salt Lake City crowd.

Travis seemed almost embarrassed by the attention and sounded genuine when he admitted to the audience that he never uses a computer or finds a need to be on the Internet.

True to form, Travis played a no-frills set, with just a plain backdrop that changed from red to black depending on the tempo of his songs. That allowed his audience to focus on Travis and his talented eight-piece band.

Travis ended the evening with the popular "Diggin' Up Bones," his trademark "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "America Will Always Stand," a song he released in 2001, shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

An encore, including "1982" from his popular "Storms of Life" album, was a reminder that even though we can't go back and correct our mistakes, we'll be sure to follow Travis more closely in the future.

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Contact Kathy Stephenson at kathys@sltrib.com or 801-257-8612. Send comments about this review to livingeditor@sltrib .com.