Train Previews New Album, Covers Queen At iHeartRadio Album Release Party
By James Dinh
January 26, 2017
iHeartRadio is the ultimate destination for celebration and Train did just that to commemorate the release of their new album, a girl a bottle a boat, during their Album Release Party LIVE on the Honda Stage at New York City's iHeartRadio Theater just hours before the set's official release.
During their 60-minute show, which included a playful Q&A session with host Wells Adam, frontman Patrick Monahan and his bandmates took the crowd down memory lane as they churned out the good ol' hits of yesteryears as well as brand-new cuts from their eighth studio LP. After the scene was set with red-hued lighting, luminous octagons that hung from the ceiling and a floor filled with fans, the band's entrance was imminent.
Alongside two female backup singers and his four bandmates, Monahan filled the venue with their core pop/rock sounds with the set's first cut: "Drive By." Amongst the other familiar hits they had in store for fans included "Hey, Soul Sister," "Drops Of Jupiter," "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" and, of course, "Calling All Angels."
But it wasn't just a one-way street as Monaghan knew those crowd-goers just as much as crowd-goers knew Monaghan's catalogue. He took photos with the audience. He offered up the microphone to fans. It was a balance of participation from both artist and fandom, which is probably what has led to the act's almost three decades of success. After all, a roar from the audience before 1999's "Meet Virginia" (their very first hit single) was a clear indicator of their longtime devotion.
Still, Train did embrace the present by unleashing a number of songs from their new LP like "Drink Up," "Working Girl," and the set's lead single "Play That Song." They also surprised the audience with a rousing cover of Queen's "Under Pressure" with falsettos that would make any fan proud.
Asked how the group's previous Led Zeppelin covers LP helped Monahan shape the new record, he explained that it all came out down to showcasing the teamwork behind the band, but still crashing certain perceptions, so they could be entirely creative with a new project.
"I really wanted a chance for people to hear what an incredible group of people I get to be on stage with every night because it's different than it used to be. Everything evolves and these guys and girls are so talented and I wanted people to hear that," he explained. "That's a pretty big accomplishment to be able to play Led Zeppelin as well as they do and I loved the response that we got. . . .You have to test some waters. It was challenging, but then it kind of cleaned the slate and now we can totally be creative and make a full-on record about us."
Based off their Thursday night showing, it's more than evident that no one had any complaints.
If you want to get into the mix, make sure you check out their "Play That Song Tour" later this summer.
May 12 – Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
May 13 – Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
May 14 – San Diego, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
May 16 – Phoenix, AZ Ak-Chin Pavilion
May 17 – Albuquerque, NM Sandia Casino
May 19 – Houston, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
May 20 – Austin, TX Austin360 Amphitheatre
May 21 – Dallas, TX Starplex Pavilion
May 22 – Rogers, AR Walmart AMP
May 24 – Birmingham, AL Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
May 26 – Tampa, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 27 – West Palm Beach, FL Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre
May 28 – Jacksonville, FL TBD
May 30 – New Orleans, LA Bold Sphere Music at Champion's Square
May 31 – Nashville, TN Ascend Amphitheater
June 2 – Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheatre
June 3 – Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
June 4 – Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
June 6 – Virginia Beach, VA Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
June 8 – Camden, NJ BB&T Pavilion
June 9 – Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Music Center
June 10 – Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
June 11 – Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
June 13 – Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
June 14 – Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
June 16 – Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
June 17 – Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
June 18 – Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
June 20 – Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
June 21 –Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage
June 23 – Pittsburgh, PA KeyBank Pavilion
June 24 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
June 25 – Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
June 27 – Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
June 29 – Indianapolis, IN Klipsch Music Center
June 30 – Chicago, IL Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
July 1 – St. Louis, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
July 3 – Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre
July 4 – Englewood, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
July 6 – Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
July 8 – Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
July 9 – Stateline, NV Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena
July 11 – Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
July 13 – Boise, ID Idaho Center Amphitheatre
July 14 – Ridgefield, WA Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
July 15 – George, WA Gorge Amphitheater
Photo: Matt Lyons for iHeartRadio