Hailing from San Francisco, Train has been making chart-topping hits since 1993. "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)," "Hey, Soul Sister," "Calling All Angels" and "Play That Song" are just a few of the monster tunes that lead them up the charts, captivating audiences with their unique blend of rock, pop, and rootsy Americana. Three decades later, Train is co-headlining the Summer Road Trip Tour with the popular early 80s band, REO Speedwagon, and they are planning to make some beautiful music together.
Of the tour, Train frontman Pat Monahan shared, “When I was younger I heard a band called REO Speedwagon and fell in love with their numerous, infectious hit songs. Years later I met Kevin Cronin, and thank goodness he’s as great a person as he is a songwriter. This tour won’t just be a great time with great people, but a tour that will have a ton of familiar songs to most generations. I will be wishing I was in the audience as much as I’ll love being on the stage.”
REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin said, "Pat Monahan and I have done several benefit shows over the years, and now we get to take out our bands for a summer full of music and fun. I love the idea of bringing together people of all ages, who share a common love for well-crafted songs and high energy live performances. The REO boys are stoked about this tour.”
So how do two hit-making bands from two different eras of music come together? "Kevin Cronin and I met at a charity event a few years ago and we talked about maybe working together," says Monahan. "They'd usually be out with Styx and we'd be out with another band from our era. We decided that maybe this was the year to do it together. It's going to be really great fun because Kevin and the guys have an insane amount of hit songs. And Yacht Rock Revue will be with us. We're just gonna take it around the country, have a blast, and share the stage together. And if you don't go see this concert, go see something, because you never know how long artists will want to perform. I never got to see Tom Petty or Prince and really wish I could."
Touring these days may look a little different for the five members of Train. "It's very similar in a lot of ways and different in other ways," says Monahan. "We do workouts every day and try to fight time and try to play golf on days off. We do this 48-hour fasting thing every once in a while. There's a shift in trying to take care of yourself and keep up and give the best performance you can. In our younger years, it was more about the parties or the newness of it all."
Monahan and the boys still have a heart that belongs to San Francisco and where it all began for them. "It's hard to say I have a favorite city, but those hometown shows in San Francisco are pretty important. Being a San Fran band, San Francisco is always really at the top. I do love going to Chicago. There's not really a city I don't love going to."
In fact, Monahan partakes in other ventures outside of music, that pay homage to his beloved hometown. His award-winning wine portfolio, Save Me, San Francisco Wine Co, was created in 2011 and has sold over 10 million bottles and won over 100 medals. Proceeds from his wine business support Family House, a San Francisco charity that supports families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
Adds Monahan, "When the Save Me, San Francisco album [released in 2009 and celebrating 15 years!] came out, that album title was very important for me. I was telling my manager that it was time to get back to our home roots and thank San Francisco for everything they've done for us. So Save Me, San Francisco was really a plea - can you get us back on our feet? We owe San Fran everything. We continue to thank them and give back."
Train is still making new music, including a live album from London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall that includes the latest single, "Long Yellow Dress." Of the single, Monahan says, "I had a dream that I couldn't reach my wife. She was wearing a long yellow dress. I had this music that I wanted to write to, so I wrote about that dream. It was obvious she didn't want to be with me in the dream, so we broke up in a song. Not in real life!"
In addition to music and wine, the 55-year-old Monahan has appeared on television and in film with credits that include the 2021 Hallmark Channel original movie, Christmas in Tahoe, inspired by Train’s album of the same name, which he executive produced and starred, Dr. Ken, 90210, CBS’s Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I., The Voice, American Idol, and The Bachelor. He says, "Acting is really not easy for me because it's other people's words. I'm really good at memorizing my own words, but other people's words are difficult for me. I do like it. So if someone offered me a role, I'd take it incredibly seriously and it'd be all-consuming. If I'm ever gonna act again, it would probably be something I have to write." SaveMeSanFrancisco.com
Train's Remaining Tour Dates
August 18 Franklin, TN FirstBank Amphitheater
August 20 Tampa, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 21 West Palm Beach, FL iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
August 22 Jacksonville, FL Daily’s Place
August 23 Orange Beach, AL The Wharf Amphitheater
August 25 Houston, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
August 26 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion
August 28 Denver, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre*
August 29 Salt Lake City, UT Utah First Credit Amphitheatre
August 31 Auburn, WA White River Amphitheatre
September 1 Bend, OR Hayden Homes Amphitheater
September 4 Ridgefield, WA RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
September 6 Wheatland, CA Toyota Amphitheatre
September 7 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
September 8 Inglewood, CA The Kia Forum
September 10 Chula Vista, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
September 11 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
"This tour won’t just be a great time with great people, but a tour that will have a ton of familiar songs to most generations. I will be wishing I was in the audience as much as I’ll love being on the stage.”