Train was the final performers of the night of a trilogy of bands at the Hartford Xfinity Theater on August 3, 2024. When they came on streamers flowed from the ceiling as Pat Monahan began with “Calling All Angels” to a cheering crowd. He and the band were all smiles at the reception from the audience.
The next song was “If Its Love.” Pat Monahan the lead singer of Train has perfected the art of picking up cell phones tossed onstage by those in the front rows and taking selfies of himself with the person standing in the audience from the stage. There were many cell phones but he didn’t miss a beat or a note as he reached down for them clicked the shot and tossed it back all while singing. He endears himself to the audience by being so friendly and personable.
The band is big on audience participation. At one point he held out his phone and asked the audience to light up their phones while he scanned the crowd and said he was going to post it to Instagram, which he later did do. Not many bands are so willing to have fun with the crowd.
Train is made up of Pat Monahan as Lead Singer, Hector Maldonado on Bass, Matt Musty on Drums, Taylor Locke on Guitar and Jerry Becker on Keyboard.
They also sent out all different sized balls into the audience to be tossed back and forth like a huge beach ball party. It may seem over the top to some but not to this place. Everyone was have fun. The band was enjoying themselves and it was contagious.
They performed one of their most popular songs “Save Me, San Francisco” and they were just getting warmed up. They played a full set of sixteen songs all to a happily satisfied audience.
Next was “Meet Virginia” my personal favorite. Monahan was wearing a t-shirt that had Train and Meet Virginia on it and proceeded to get it signed by the band members during the song. They also had a basket of rolled up shirts, just not signed, and he and other bandmates began practicing their long throws passing them far out into the audience.
They jumped into their newest single, “Long Yellow Dress” and it was well received as is all their music. Train has been doing concerts for approximately 30 years and knows what their audience expects and is glad to give it. The band sings of love and togetherness and not discord and disappointment.
At one point in the show Pat brought out his son Rock who played Led Zeppelins “Over The Hills and Far Away” with Pat playing the drums to back him. It’s seems music does indeed run in this family.
They finished out the night with the always popular hit song “Drops of Jupiter” to a happy crowd. It was a night of fun for all actually a great combination of the 3 bands who chose to tour together. It seemed a quirky combination at first but it completely and totally worked.
If you get the chance to take in this trio of bands do it while you can it’s worth it. They enjoy the audience, and it is obvious they enjoy touring and having the feedback of a live crowd and the excitement it brings. Train has a positive message to broadcast and it seems to be love.
Review by Donna Erichsen
Photos by George Bekris
To find out more information about Train and their upcoming tour schedule visit Train (savemesanfrancisco.com)
SETLIST:
Calling All Angels
If It’s Love
Get to Me
Save Me, San Francisco
Meet Virginia / The Joker
Long Yellow Dress
Over the Hills and Far Away –
(Led Zeppelin cover) (Sung by Pat’s son, Rock. Pat played drums.)
Play That Song
Parachute
Angel in Blue Jeans / Too Sweet – (Hozier cover)
50 Ways to Say Goodbye
Marry Me – (Acoustic)
Bruises / Seven Bridges Road
Hey, Soul Sister / Come and Get Your Love
Drive By / Hey Jude
Drops of Jupiter
