Train in Philadelphia

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 Philadelphia News

• Getting Around: Tips on Navigating Philadelphia Visit Philadelphia · Jan 30, 2026
• Annual antique toy train show rolls through South Jersey museum 6abc Philadelphia · Jan 3, 2026
• What's New in Philly for the 2025 Holiday Season Visit Philadelphia · Dec 11, 2025
• Another portal is transporting to Philly, and this one is promoting Universal's new theme park PhillyVoice · Apr 1, 2025
• Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia THIRTEEN - New York Public Media · Nov 21, 2023

Live Music in Philadelphia

Philadelphia's music DNA is rooted in soul, funk, and gritty rock—think Gamble and Huff's production legacy, Philly Soul, and bands that earned their sound in smaller venues before breaking through. The city's always been skeptical of anything too slick or corporate. That said, mainstream rock acts still find audiences here, especially when they've got the hooks to back it up. Train occupies that mainstream space where serious music fans and casual listeners don't always overlap.

Philadelphia road trip to see Train?

Stay in Rittenhouse Square, where you can walk to dinner at Vetri, the restaurant that actually deserves its reputation. Spend your afternoon at the Barnes Foundation—it's genuinely world-class, even if you're not typically a museum person. Walk through Old City, grab coffee at Little Lion, wander through galleries that don't feel like they're trying too hard. If you have time before the show, check out what's playing at The Fillmore or Johnny Brenda's, venues that consistently book solid acts. The neighborhood around the venue is worth exploring on foot.