I’ll admit it. I think the band Train is talented. I think they’re good. I’ve seen them in concert twice now and I’ll go see them again. So there, my friend that gently ridiculed me for having this showcase on my schedule. “Aren’t they like that band that sounds like every Christian rock band?” My friend was giving me a hard time about seeing this commercially successful band … and friends should do that. It’s fun. But I did have to switch off his voice in my head so as to not let his words steal my joy. I was going to this show and part of the reason was my wife likes their music even more than I do and she couldn’t make it.
If you’ve never heard of Train, a quick search on YouTube will get you plenty. They’re like an easy-listening meets hard rock blend of Aerosmith, Counting Crows and even a little Guardian thrown in. They’re probably huge at college sororities and fraternities.
The line was long outside Central Presbyterian Church, which is one of 90-plus venues in the city that hosts showcases during SXSW. A year or two ago I saw Jennifer Knapp play there and it’s usually fare to singer-songwriter acts, as the acoustics are amazing. I got a kick out of hearing a big Train fan in line behind me worrying about whether or not we would get in, whether we were in the right line, whether someone that wasn’t supposed to get in front of him (since he had a badge) would. He was about to crawl out of his skin. I’m glad for the guy, cuz the performance before ours (Andy McKee) apparently had a lot of fans that wanted to leave, so there was space. It’s an old-fashioned church with an a-frame structure, wooden floors and large, wooden pews. There was probably 30 to 50 rows of pews on either side of the center aisle of this narrow room, a loft above stage right and then one above in the back of the room. The place filled up quick and the show began.
I wondered if the band would play all electric or all acoustic. Turns out they did a little of both – with lead guitarist Jimmy Stafford sticking to his acoustic (and ukulele for the song “Hey, Soul Sister”), but the rhythm section including the electric bass guitar and drums. The band jumped right into “Save Me, San Francisco,” segued into “Meet Virginia” and then took a quick breath and introduced a new song with a question about it’s title, saying, “maybe, This Will Finally Be My Year.” It was funny to see vocalist Pat Monahan using a lyric sheet to deliver the still fresh tune.
They went from that new song to the new single, “Drive By,” which, like a lot of their songs, is filled with names and items from our shared cultural landscape, referencing his love that’s gone viral. The tune sounds good live, although there was little doubt the fast-paced pop song would translate into a live setting. These guys are total pro’s and have the talent to transcend that role of performance to moment. Monahan made light of the fact that they were playing in a church during the first song, where he invited people to sing along to the last album’s title track, then chiding them for claiming to get high while in a church. Later he took the time to do something special that he did the last time I saw them – belting out the verses to “Calling All Angels” without the aid of a microphone. It didn’t really work at La Zona Rosa back in 2009 – thanks to screaming fans that apparently couldn’t help themselves. This time the acoustics were absolutely perfect for such a move. As he started, a few squeals were emitted from the pews, but he was ready. “I can’t do this if you scream.” Then the crowd bit their lips and quietly sat for a moving vocal performance about child abuse and other tragedies that beset calling for help from special angels. He finished the song that way, too. The audience joins in for the refrains of: “I won’t give up if you don’t give up.”
Monahan took it up another notch when he paused before the next song and said, “You know, if there was ever a moment to walk down the aisle…” and the band lit into the song “Marry Me” (from Save Me, San Francisco). And, sure enough, a young lady looking to be about 22 briskly made her way out from the middle of the crowd and down the aisle. Her body language said humility, but the move was as bold as anything. Monahan and the audience took in the moment, then he smiled and said, “I can’t marry you, cuz my wife would get super pissed off, but I can give you this t-shirt.” I guess he was prepared for the moment, but it all felt impromptu and awkward in that fun way.
The band whipped out the ukulele for “Hey, Soul Sister,” which is a feel-good song. Then Monahan expressed heartfelt thanks to their fans, for coming out to see them and making their career have purpose and meaning. Then they went into “Drops of Jupiter,” squeezing every ounce of melody, soft brush drumming and vocal dancing that the song allowed and the set was over.
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