An interview with the band Train

photo courtesy Columbia Records

A version of my story originally appeared at nctimes.com/entertainment/music. See tour dates at the end.

Train proudly hails from the City by the Bay.

The band gave props to the region on its 2009 effort “Save Me, San Francisco.” More references can be found within new album “California 37,” which is named after the state highway running through Napa Valley. 

“Since our career took off, we never really embraced it like we should have,” said drummer Scott Underwood, in a phone interview from Nashville. Train took a late ‘90s hiatus and the musicians realized they had “lost touch with our roots. That’s something we wanted back.”

Initially formed as a quintet in 1994, Train is rounded out by singer Pat Monahan and guitarist Jimmy Stafford. Underwood recalled early days playing “tiny little hell holes” in the Tenderloin section of SF.

Everything that changed after the group’s self-titled debut disc spawned a major pop single (“Meet Virginia”) and went platinum in ‘99. Subsequent million-selling CDs (“Drops of Jupiter,” “My Private Nation,” “Save Me, San Francisco”) resulted in Grammy Awards and several other hits (“Calling All Angels,” “She’s on Fire,” “If It’s Love”).

Ukulele-driven smash “Hey, Soul Sister” sold 4.3 million downloads and was 2010’s most played radio track, placing it among the top 20 all-time best sellers of the rock era. Just a few years earlier, Train was stuck in a creative malaise when fourth effort “For Me, It’s You” failed to measure up to its predecessors.

“When we came back, we didn’t know if anybody was going to care about Train at all,” admitted Underwood. “The success of ‘Hey, Soul Sister’ was really mind-blowing to us and the music industry as a whole. We really appreciated it. We’ll never take our career for granted again.”

Train wrote the material that comprised “California 37” during several world tours to support “Save Me San Francisco.” Butch Walker oversaw the bulk of studio work.

“He’s an old friend; we used to play shows with his band Marvelous 3. Even though we made a pop record, he has rock sensibilities and helped keep the edge alive. It felt like working with a peer.”

Espionage (the Norwegian production duo responsible for “Hey, Soul Sister”) also returned to provide musical input.

Among the pleasant surprises are some Mariachi brass flourishes on frantic, humorous new single “50 Ways to Say Goodbye” and a flamenco-leaning “Mermaid.” Underwood said the former was inspired by the group’s South American tour with Shakira. “We really dug the Latin vibe.”

Driving pop/rocker “This’ll Be My Year” is a history lesson a la Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Subtle New Orleans-styled horns accentuate “Sing Together” and dramatic piano ballad “When the Fog Rolls In.”

Bagpipes cap off “We Were Made for This,” the West LA Children’s Choir appears on “You Can Finally Meet My Mom” and the title track finds Monahan channeling his inner Kanye West.

According to Underwood, agreeing on unusual Train ideas is effortless. “We have a singular mind when it comes to music and we [often] hear the same instruments applying to a song. It’s really easy to work and put stuff together."

Ashley Monroe duets with Monahan on the folkish album highlight “Bruises,” about a high school reunion. The Train drummer has high praise for Monroe, the female country singer whose songwriting credits include Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood and Pistol Annies partner Miranda Lambert.

“We feel really lucky to have her. I think it’s the best Train song ever.”

Monahan often uses lighthearted pop culture references in his lyrics. “California 37” continues that tradition.

Underwood prefers the singer’s serious material. “Pat has this spectrum where he can go from the most heartbreaking love song into one that’s completely funny. Over time, I realized he has a [unique] voice and style of lyric-writing.”

Recently, Train unveiled a different California 37 product - the third varietal from its Save Me San Francisco Wine Company. The signature drink is available select retailers, markets and restaurants.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
Underwood said the cabernet sauvignon has done “amazingly well. We really wanted to make a good quality wine and not a novelty. It got 92 [rating] in Wine Spectator” magazine. 

U.S. tour dates:

6/29
Milwaukee, WI
Marcus Amphitheater

6/30

Del Mar, CA

San Diego County Fair

7/26
Charlotte, NC
Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre

7/27
Raleigh, NC
Raleigh Amphitheater

7/28
Des Moines, IA
Stars in the Park

7/29
St. Louis, MO
Peabody Opera House

8/02
Lincoln, NE
Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater

8/04
Indianapolis, IN
Indiana State Fair

8/05
Nashville, TN
The Woods at Fontanel

8/07
Rochester Hills, MI
Meadowbrook

8/08
Cincinnati, OH
PNC Pavilion

8/10
Kansas City, MO
Starlight

8/11
Highland Park, IL
Ravinia Festival


8/12
Highland Park, IL
Ravinia Festival


8/14
Toledo, OH
Toledo Zoo Amphitheater

8/15
Springfield, IL
Illinois State Fair

8/16
Cleveland, OH
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica

8/18
Philadelphia, PA
Mann Center for the Performing Arts

8/19
Uncasville, CT
Mohegan Sun

8/21
Vienna, VA
Wolf Trap


8/22
Glen Allen, VA
Innsbrook Pavilion

8/24
Canandaigua, NY
Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center

8/25
Essex Junction, VT
Champlain Valley Exposition

8/26
Gilford , NH
Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion

8/27
New York, NY
Central Park Summerstage (Rumsey Playfield)

8/29
Pittsburgh, PA
STAGE AE

8/30
West Long Branch, NJ
MAC Center – Monmouth University

8/31
Lenox, MA
Tanglewood

9/01
Atlantic City, NJ
Borgata

9/02
Virginia Beach, VA
American Music Festival

9/05
Boca Raton, FL
Mizner Park Amphitheater

9/06
St. Augustine, FL
St. Augustine Amphitheater

9/07
Atlanta, GA
Chastain Park Amphitheater

9/09
Dayton, OH
Downtown Revival Music Festival

9/11
Tuscaloosa, AL
Tuscaloosa Amphitheater

9/12
Memphis, TN
Mud Island Amphitheater

9/13
Oklahoma City, OK
Zoo Amphitheater

9/14
Houston, TX
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

9/15
Grand Prairie, TX
Verizon Theater

9/16
New Braunfels, TX
WhiteWater Amphitheater

9/19
Morrison, CO
Red Rocks

9/20
Salt Lake City, UT
Gallivan Center

9/22
Portland, OR
Edgefield


9/23
Puyallup, WA
Western Washington Fair

9/25
Vancouver, BC
Queen Elizabeth Theatre

9/26
Eugene, OR
Cuthbert Amphitheater

9/27
Reno, NV
Reno Events Center

9/28
Berkeley, CA
Greek Theater

9/29
Los Angeles, CA
Nokia Theater

9/30
Phoenix, AZ
Comerica Theater