Train in New York

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 + New York

Train has maintained a steady presence in New York over the years, and their November 2025 stop at Silver Lining Lounge felt like a proper homecoming. They opened with "Meet Virginia," that late-90s deep cut that reminds you why they mattered beyond the radio hits. The setlist balanced fan favorites with moments that landed harder than expected—"Ramble On" brought real energy, while "Drive By" and "Hey, Soul Sister" kept things grounded in what made them charming in the first place. They closed out with "Drops of Jupiter," which felt inevitable and earned. Six songs in an intimate venue meant every moment had weight.

Train in New York News

• I took Amtrak's Miami to NYC Line so You Don't Have To cnynews.com · Feb 26, 2026
• Guide to the NYBG Holiday Train Show, An Annual Love Letter to NYC Untapped New York · Dec 5, 2025
• I splurged on a $1,000 room for a 30-hour Amtrak ride. It was the best overnight train experience I've had in the US. Business Insider · Nov 7, 2025
• Festive fun awaits! The New York Transit Museum’s Holiday Train Show returns to Grand Central Terminal in November amNewYork · Oct 13, 2025
• Holiday Train Nights New York Botanical Garden · Sep 19, 2025

Live Music in New York

New York's always been too busy inventing the next thing to get too attached to any one sound. But the mainstream rock that Train represents—that glossy, hook-heavy arena sound—it found plenty of fans here in the 2000s alongside the indie and hip-hop movements that actually defined the era. The city's never been monolithic about what matters, which is kind of the New York way.

New York road trip to see Train?

Stay in the Upper West Side near Central Park—quieter than Midtown, better restaurants, and close enough to everywhere that matters. Dinner at Balthazar in SoHo if you want classic New York energy, or Gramercy Tavern if you prefer something less scene-y. Spend your afternoon at the Met or catching live music at Blue Note or The Basement—both venues where you'll see the players who influenced Mars's sound. Walk through Washington Square Park, grab a coffee, remember why New York mattered to music in the first place.