Train in Minneapolis

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 Minneapolis News

• Where the CPKC Holiday Train is stopping in the Twin Cities Axios · Dec 11, 2025
• When to See the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train in Minnesota in 2025 Mpls.St.Paul Magazine · Nov 4, 2025
• What to know if you’re heading to see Paul McCartney in Minneapolis Pioneer Press · Oct 14, 2025
• Metro Transit assures Farm Aid 40 concertgoers late trains will be available to take them home Star Tribune · Sep 20, 2025
• Amtrak's Borealis makes visiting Minneapolis easier than ever OnMilwaukee · Jun 16, 2025

Live Music in Minneapolis

Minneapolis has always been a city that respects musicianship and production value, from the Replacements to the Current—public radio's taste-making influence runs deep. That sensibility meets Train's territory somewhere in the middle: accessible pop-rock with studio craft that doesn't insult intelligence. The audience here typically knows the difference between hits and filler.

Minneapolis road trip to see Train?

Stay in the Northeast Minneapolis arts district—it's where the city's creative energy actually lives, with galleries, vintage shops, and the Mississippi River nearby. Eat at Café Alma in the same neighborhood for restrained, high-quality Italian cooking. Spend an afternoon at the Walker Art Center, which sits on a rise overlooking downtown and has genuine landscape appeal. Grab coffee at Spyhouse, a roaster that takes itself seriously without the performative nonsense. The Stone Arch Bridge is worth a walk if the weather cooperates.