On a warm September evening, while waiting for the sold-out Train concert to begin at the Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles, the sounds of a freight train seem to be coming at you with a darkened stage. It gets louder and louder until the lights come on.
Train started the show with songs “She’s On Fire/Oasis” and “Meet Virginia,” the band’s first top 20 hit from 1999, at which point lead singer Pat Monahan introduced the newest member of the Train family — Taylor Locke of San Luis Obispo.
The frontman stated that since it was like a hometown show for Locke, they should let him have a second guitar solo after his scorching fret showcase that received thunderous applause. Congratulations go out to Locke.
As the evening continued, Train performed hits to the likes of “Save Me San Francisco,” “Hey, Soul Sister,” Drive By” and, of course, “Drops of Jupiter,” plus many more.
Train has sold more than 10 million albums and 30 million tracks worldwide, with multiple platinum/gold citations, including three Grammy Awards, two Billboard Music Awards and many more honors.
In 2001, “Drops of Jupiter” brought them to multiplatinum status thanks to the double-Grammy Award-winning title song that spent 10 months in the top 40. The group won another Grammy in 2011 for the global hit “Hey, Soul Sister,” the No.1 best-selling smash and most downloaded single of 2010 from their multiplatinum album “Save Me, San Francisco.” Train had 12 albums on the Billboard 200 album chart, another big honor.
Train has been supporting Family House San Francisco, where families of children with life-threatening illnesses who are being treated at a local children’s hospital can stay for free and receive the help they need.
It was a beautiful and clear night, and noticing the planet Jupiter shining bright in the night sky above the Vina Robles Amphitheatre, I couldn’t help but think to myself how ironic it was that the planet and Train’s biggest’s hit coincided together on that night. “Drops of Jupiter” is about the loss of Monahan’s mother to cancer, and two friends passing also gave Monahan the inspiration to write the song. Thus, he believes his mother returned to visit him with “drops of Jupiter” in her hair.
Overall, it was a perfect evening with a talented band that knows how to move an audience doing what they do best — rock-‘n’-roll.
Set List of Train Concert:
1. She’s On Fire/Oasis
2. Virginia
3. Get to Me
4. If It’s Love
5. Mai Tais/Paul Simon 50 Ways
6. Angel In Blue Jeans
7. Get Away
8. Save Me SF
9. Bruises/Csny
10. Calling All Angels
11. Going to California
12. Marry Me
13. Play That Song Soul Sister/Vacation
14. The Weight
15. Drive By/Hey Jude
16. Free/Argent Drops
— Gary Lambert is a local freelance photographer and writer. The opinions expressed are his own.
