Train in Denver

About Train

Train emerged from San Francisco in the late 90s with a sound that split the difference between 90s alternative rock and radio-friendly pop sensibility. They hit their commercial peak in the mid-2000s when 'Drops of Jupiter' became inescapable, a sprawling track that somehow worked despite its kitchen-sink approach to arrangements. 'Hey Soul Sister' cemented their status as a mainstream act, though it also solidified some people's conviction that they were aggressively corny. Their earlier work, particularly around 'Meet Virginia' and 'Calling All Angels,' showed more textural ambition and less predictability. Lead singer Pat Monahan has a conversational delivery that can feel either disarming or grating depending on your tolerance for earnestness. They've largely leaned into their catalog strength and touring reliability rather than chasing relevance, which is probably the right call.

Train shows are wedding reception energy. People sing along to every word of the big hits, the crowd gets genuinely into it, and there's a lot of swaying and phone recording. Monahan talks between songs in a way that either lands as charming or self-indulgent. Shows run long and feel competent.

Known for Drops of Jupiter, Hey Soul Sister, Calling All Angels, Meet Virginia, Marry Me

Train in Denver News

• Rocky Mountain Holiday Train Show keeps chugging along Denver Gazette · Nov 29, 2025
• Large crowds expected in Denver Saturday night — Don’t miss the last train home Denver Gazette · Oct 8, 2025
• RTD adding train cars to service before, after Paul McCartney concert Saturday kdvr.com · Oct 8, 2025
• Students train with top chef for upcoming Denver Food + Wine Festival CBS News · Sep 7, 2025
• All aboard! Denver’s model train show attracts thousands of railway enthusiasts Colorado Springs Gazette · Apr 6, 2025

Live Music in Denver

Denver's got a weird relationship with the kind of slick pop-rock Train does. The city's more known for indie rock, folk, and jam bands — acts that prioritize authenticity over polish. But that tension between mainstream accessibility and Denver's indie leanings actually makes for decent concerts. Train's brand of hooks and radio-friendly production will find an audience here, even if it's not the city's natural default.

Denver road trip to see Train?

Stay in Highland, where tree-lined streets and independent bookstores make it feel like you're actually in Denver rather than passing through. Eat at Frasca Food and Wine if you want to understand why Colorado takes its ingredients seriously—it's fine dining without pretense. Before the show, spend an afternoon at the Denver Art Museum's contemporary wing, which often has installations that match the visual language of experimental music. Walk around Santa Fe Drive's gallery district. It's the kind of neighborhood where the art and music scenes actually talk to each other.