Train
PNC Music Pavilion
June 9, 2015
Just to note: I actually felt like I’d been hit by a train this morning when I woke up. The reason for my tiredness – a long ass, solid set by Train at PNC Pavilion the previous night. The band has plenty – around two hours worth – of hits in its lengthy music catalogue, so it’s no wonder the set ran long. Plus, the show had two opening acts – Matt Nathanson and The Fray.
Having kept up with them on a minuscule level over the years, I was actually surprised by the many, many recognizable songs on the setlist. They are filling up amphitheatres for good reason (p.s.-The folks on the lawn really were “packed in like sardines,” so to speak). The band kicked off with “Just a Memory,” a jumpy rock/country-esque track from 2014’s Bulletproof Picasso. After that, the band went straight in for the punches, playing tracks from all phases of their music career. This included throwbacks to singles, from the band’s self-titled 1998 debut, including “Meet Virginia” and “Free,” (also the first song the band crafted together), which was enhanced by a soulful fusion of vocals from two backup singers.
Frontman Pat Monahan proved his ability to multi-task by singing and taking selfies with the crowd during “If It’s Love.” Monahan declared that “When I Look To The Sky,” is the band’s most requested song, before singing the cigarette …err… phone-lighter ballad that calmed the crowd down.
Interactive portions of the show included beach balls being thrown out to the audience for “Save Me, San Francisco” and a group of 20 or so kids being brought on stage after “Wonder What You’re Doing For The Rest Of Your Life.” Their strange stage appearance was followed by Monahan welcoming The Fray’s frontman Isaac Slade and Nathanson to join him for a cover of John Hiatt’s “Have A Little Faith In Me.”
For the show’s encore, Train performed another cover – Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” Hearing Monahan stretch his vocal chords and screech was a real treat. He’s no Steven Tyler, but he damned well knows how to try. The show finished with “Drops of Jupiter.”
Set list
Just A Memory
50 Ways To Say Goodbye
If It’s Love
Angel In Blue Jeans
Meet Virginia
Free
Bulletproof Picasso
When I Look To The Sky
Calling All Angels
Save Me, San Francisco
Wonder What You’re Doing For The Rest Of Your Life
Have A Little Faith In Me
Give It All
Marry Me
Hey, Soul Sister
Drive By
Encore
She’s On Fire
Dream On
Drops of Jupiter
This article appears in Jun 3-9, 2015.
