Under a blue sky at the Molson Amphitheatre on Sunday, Train served up a show that was not only fun, but refreshingly absent of any real promotional agenda. In front of about 8,000 fans, the boys from San Francisco gave plenty of shine to their capable opening acts, and they even offered up a few covers during a show that was high on energy and low on self-absorption.
The pop-rock trio was in town for their Mermaids of Alcatraz tour, partly in promotion of their recently released California 37. Although the new album was featured regularly during the near-two-hour set (six of their 19 songs came from the album), it never felt unwelcome, and there was still plenty of time for the older crowd favourites.
Not only were all of Train’s main hits, including the show-opening “Calling All Angels,” “Meet Virginia,” “Hey Soul Sister” and the newer “Drive By” accounted for, but the band had time to dabble into the work of other artists. Their covers included a Beatles medley, a post-“Mermaid” outro of Bob Marley’s “Could You Be Loved” and even a tongue-in-cheek take on Macklemore’s “Can’t Hold Us.”
The one constant throughout the show was an unmistakable aura of fun. It was especially present when lead singer Pat Monahan took a romp through the crowd during “Save Me, San Francisco,” but also during “Hey, Soul Sister,” which was heavy with crowd involvement, and “Drops of Jupiter,” which was belted out as part of a three-song encore.
Train’s supporting players were game to take part in the fun atmosphere. The band had country singer Ashley Monroe on hand to handle her own vocals on “Bruises,” a new collaboration track, and they allowed her a platform to showcase her own catchy-but-forgettable “Weed Instead of Roses.”
Most of the crowd was already on hand to be charmed by opener Gavin DeGraw, who kicked off the night with a tight 45-minute set. He was followed by Michael Franti & Spearhead, who created one of the night’s most memorable images when some young kids from the crowd traipsed around the stage to the uptempo sounds of “Say Hey (I Love You).”
Both openers rejoined Train onstage for a show-closing cover of The Band’s “The Weight,” bringing a satisfying, collaborative end to an awfully fun night.