If you see Train perform live, chances are the last song will be “Drops of Jupiter,” the hit single from the band's 2001 album of the same name.
“When people hear it, they get sad because they know that's the end. [of the show]”, says singer Pat Monahan Billboard's Behind the tracklist podcast. “But we’re not going to play anything after that song. That song means a lot to me for a lot of personal reasons and it was a big song all over the world.”
In fact, “Drops of Jupiter,” which Monahan wrote about his late mother, peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001, the band’s second-best performance on the chart behind “Hey Soul Sister,” which peaked at No. 3 in 2010.
On Train’s current tour with REO Speedwagon, fans are likely to hear familiar songs rather than obscure tracks. Monahan explains that the band sometimes opened with “We Were Made for This” from the 2012 album California 37 on their recent European tour. It wasn’t released as a single, nor does it have the upbeat energy bands typically want to kick off a concert. Instead, “We Were Made for This” starts off slowly and speeds up two minutes into the song with a guitar solo from Taylor Locke. The momentum calms down again before the band brings the song to an energetic climax.
“Train fans loved it,” he says, “but I don’t think it’s right for a tour with REO Speedwagon, you know? Because by the time they leave the stage, people will have heard 35 hit songs.”
At most of Train's July shows in the Midwest, Monahan and his four bandmates (Locke, bassist Hector Maldonado, drummer Matt Musty and guitarist/keyboardist Jerry Becker) have been opening with “Calling All Angels,” the title track from the 2003 album. My private nation. It's a very well-known song, no doubt: “Calling All Angeles” peaked at number 19 on the Hot 100. “I've come to think that a first song should be recognizable [and] “It’s got a lot of energy, but it’s not your biggest song,” he says, “you don’t want to burn the biggest ones at the top because I think people are still accepting you.”
Halfway through the set the pace slows down. “Marry Me” from 2009 Save me, Saint Francislets the audience know that “I have a band with amazing singers,” Monahan says. “Bruises” is a “country rock” song that fits well into the concert’s acoustic interlude. Train will frequently play Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control,” which Monahan says is a “great transitional” song that bridges the middle and late parts of the set that includes “Hey Soul Sister,” “Drive By,” a top 10 Hot 100 hit from 2012, and “Drops of Jupiter.”
When choosing from Train’s vast catalog, Monahan thinks like a fan. He recalls touring with Ben Folds Five, who had a hit in 1997 with the song “Brick.” “They’re a great band,” Monahan says, “but they avoided playing ‘Brick,’ because when they played ‘Brick,’ which was their hit, their fans were disappointed. And when they didn’t play ‘Brick,’ I was disappointed. I grew up wanting to sing along with bands I loved, so I don’t want to take that away from Train fans.”
Listen to the full interview with Pat Monahan in the embedded Spotify player below, or go to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart either As long as.
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