Review by Vanessa Monaghan
Photos by Ronan Shaw
Vicar St was the venue for Train’s first Irish gig, five albums into their career and with a good back catalogue it should be a good way to warm up a chilly October evening. It turned out to be more than just another gig.
Opening the evening was AM, a singer songwriter based in LA, California. Backed up in a live setting by Brett Bixby on synths and the excellent Chris Lovejoy on percussion, the trio performed sophisticated pop with slight 60’s throwback. Their set, warmly acknowledged by the audience, contained tracks with blues, jazz and lounge influences. The band played tracks from the current album ‘Future Sons & Daughters’ including the single ‘Self Preservation’ which they ended their set with.
Musicianship from the trio was top-notch, however main vocals from AM himself, could have been a little higher and sound a little stronger in the mix. This was most noticeable during their cover of The Four Tops’ “I’ll be there’, a cracker of a tune which really needs a big voice to make the most of the chorus line, unfortunately here it didn’t quite work.
There’s only one way a band called ‘Train’ could come onto the stage, yes to the sound effects of a Choo-choo building up speed and coming right at you. As the band launch into ‘Parachute’ from their current album, a very animated Pat Monahan immediately captivates the audience. Moving around the stage, ballerina style with insect like limbs, Monahan’s front man prowess shows what many other front men only dream of achieving. The other instantly noticeable thing about the Bay Area singer is how pristine and powerful his vocals are.
The general radio listening public probably know Train best for their hits “Hey Soul Sister’ and 2001’s ‘Drops of Jupiter’. The
audience in Vicar St seem to be avid fans of the band, singing every word. Monahan shows his sense of humour for the first time as he addresses the crowd ‘Conas ata tu?’ To which he jokes that ‘You probably reply Pretty Awesome Thanks’. During ‘Meet Virginia’, the frontman is constantly reaching for fans hands, smiling joking, even taking photos of himself with audience cameras, making sure we all see his smile.
Fan favourite ‘She’s On Fire’ sees the audience sing along to every word before Monahan stops and asks permission to finish the track in a country-style. More uptempo, bluegrass has the audience smiling and cheering, it’s obvious that the band don’t take themselves too seriously. Monahan dons a well dodgy cowboy hat, which one member of the audience becomes the proud owner of. Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood lead the faultless band, seasoned pro’s but still looking like they are enjoying every minute.
The next part of the show has the audience in stitches laughing. Seven ‘Trainettes’ are called to the stage to sing and dance. The lucky audience members get a special ‘Trainettes’ t-shirt for their troubles as they shake their booty and sing the chorus to ‘She’s On Fire’. One extra eager “Trainette’ is singled out by guitarist Jimmy Stafford, to howls of laughter.
By this stage of the night, it was obvious we were not witnessing but taking part in something special. Each song had something different, some audience interaction, we weren’t just watching a show, we were also taking part. During “I got you’ the band hand out t-shirts to members of the audience. (Free t-shirts!), while during current single ‘If It’s Love’ Monahan takes a photograph of the audience which he shares on Twitter.
It’s a regular occurrence at gigs to hear, ‘It’s great to be here, we love Ireland’. When Monahan says it though, he seems to actually mean it, saying that his Grandfather was from Tuam. He apologizes for not coming to Ireland before and genuinely seems quite emotional to be here.
What happens next is something not to be forgotten in a hurry. The frontman asks if its OK if he sings without amplification. Daring move. Accompanied by keyboards, Monahan, without a microphone makes ‘When I look to the Sky’ even more poignant. Other than his vocals filling the auditorium, you could hear a pin drop.
‘Calling All Angels’ brings the tempo up again, ending with audience hand claps as the final beats of the song. All Monahan needs to do is sing the first three words of ‘Save Me San Francisco’ to have the audience sing it back at him. Crawling along speakers to the edges of the stage, the frontman uses the full width of the stage to his advantage, captivating and interacting constantly with the audience.
A change to a white t-shirt so ‘I’m wearing white’ is an introduction ‘Marry Me’ from the current album. Yet again, Train show they are not like other bands. Monahan with a couple of bouncers, crosses the barricades at the front of stage, makes his way to the back of the venue, touching hands, singing his way perfectly though the song.
That couldn’t be all though, as the party kicks up a notch even more for ‘Hey Soul Sister’, the decibel levels rise to the point that the audience are in control of the bands biggest hit. If Ireland won the World Cup I think that’s what the cheers would sound like.
Monahan then bravely crowdsurfs his way across the width of Vicar St. Crowd surfs. Train. In Vicar St. Amazing scenes, Monahan shows his delight with his success with a big wide smile. He promptly signs the white t-shirt and gives it to a member of the audience.
Throughout the night, the frontman is constantly moving, interacting, giving it socks. There was no let up, no downs during Train’s set. Olé Olé chants fill the venue until the band return to the stage. The encore is no different.
The first notes of ‘Drops of Jupiter’ and the band have the audience in the palm of their hand once more, singing every note as if their life depended on it. A cover of Aerosmith’s ‘Dream On’ shows Train as a band not afraid to try other people’s music on for size.
Monahan address the audience again saying there were probably songs the audience had wanted to hear and didn’t. He asks what they are and so the Train request show begins. The band play ‘About to Come Alive’ as requested by the audience. Monahan jokes how he wrote the song about his ex-wife and how he was about to come alive while he wished she would drop dead. Cue howls of audience laughter.
A verse and chorus of ‘Respect’ and ‘Save the Day’ follow both requested by the captive audience. An emotional Train frontman then says ‘I have never said this before. This was my life’s favourite show’.
‘Say Goodbye’ brings the show to a close and brings Vicar St crowd to a standing ovation. The band seems like they could’ve played all night, reluctant to leave the stage. Fantastic musicianship, an absolutely amazing frontman. This is what other bands have to live up to. A brilliant night’s entertainment, one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. And what’s more tonight Train made me fall in love with music again.
