Train in Indianapolis

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 + Indianapolis

Train rolled through Ruoff Music Center last July and reminded Indianapolis why they've stayed relevant for two decades. They opened with "Calling All Angels" and leaned into the deep catalog—"Get to Me" and "Long Yellow Dress" got their moment alongside the expected "Hey, Soul Sister." The setlist felt balanced between hits and album cuts, closing out with "Drops of Jupiter" after a mashup encore that paired "Drive By" with "Hey Jude." It's the kind of show that works because Train knows exactly what they are: a band that's written enough good songs to fill a night without breaking a sweat.

Train in Indianapolis News

• All Aboard! The Great Train Show Returns to the Indiana State Fairgrounds Indy's Child Magazine · Jan 22, 2026
• 'Tis the season: Indy-area concerts, holiday lights, festivals and more IndyStar · Nov 24, 2025
• All Aboard the Sullivan Express to the North Pole (2025) Indy's Child Magazine · Oct 28, 2025
• Hunter Wohler hype train is officially leaving the station in Indianapolis Horseshoe Heroes · Aug 7, 2025
• Train derails, spills corn starch on near east side of Indianapolis Fox 59 · Apr 6, 2025

Live Music in Indianapolis

Indianapolis has a solid live music infrastructure built on classic rock, country, and indie sensibilities. The city's never been known as a pop epicenter, but it supports touring acts across venues like Gainbridge Fieldhouse and The Pavilion. Train fits the mainstream rock touring circuit Indianapolis expects — polished, familiar, comfortable. The local scene tends to favor homegrown acts and classic-rock tributaries, so this is more about out-of-towners coming to play the hits.

Indianapolis road trip to see Train?

Stay in Fountain Square, the neighborhood with actual character—tree-lined streets, galleries, and the kind of restaurants that don't need to try too hard. Dinner at Bluebeard is the right call: meticulous food, interesting wine list, the sort of place that respects both craft and restraint. Spend the afternoon at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, which is legitimately excellent and free. Walk around the Canal, catch whatever's happening at the Vogue or Murat depending on the venue, then hit Mass Ave afterward for drinks at a place like Chatterbox or The Rathskeller. It's a short trip that doesn't feel rushed.