Train in St. Louis

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 + St. Louis

Train rolled through City Winery on a summer evening in August, delivering a setlist that ranged from funk deep cuts to New Orleans jazz standards. They leaned into "A Love Bizarre" and "The Glamorous Life," the kind of songs that reveal a band comfortable exploring beyond their wheelhouse. "Hold Me" hit different in that intimate venue setting, while "When the Saints Go Marching In" felt like a love letter to the city itself. It was the kind of show that reminded you Train has always been more eclectic than their radio reputation suggests.

Train in St. Louis News

• Amtrak Train Twenty-Two Stranded Near Chicago in US: Quick Action Ensures Safe Passenger Transfer to Buses Without Injuries Travel And Tour World · Dec 1, 2025
• Amtrak train from St. Louis to Chicago disabled; passengers bused to destination KMOV · Nov 30, 2025
• Experience the Magic of the St. Louis Polar Express! KSDK · Nov 14, 2025
• When to See the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train in Minnesota in 2025 Mpls.St.Paul Magazine · Nov 4, 2025
• Train derailment triggers evacuations in south St. Louis County, hazmat team responding KSDK · Oct 10, 2025

Live Music in St. Louis

St. Louis has always been more about blues roots and hip-hop credibility than mainstream pop-rock. The city's live music venues range from intimate blues clubs on Beale Street vibes to larger theaters, but they tend to skew toward either heritage acts or contemporary rap and R&B. Train represents a different lane—polished, radio-friendly pop-rock that doesn't naturally belong to St. Louis's DNA. When major pop acts roll through, they play the bigger rooms, but the city's real passion lives elsewhere.

St. Louis road trip to see Train?

Base yourself in the Central West End, where the tree-lined streets and converted lofts give the neighborhood a genuinely livable vibe. Hit Broadway Oyster Bar for something with actual character, or Park Avenue Coffee if you need to ease in. Spend an afternoon at the City Museum—it's genuinely weird and worth your time, not a tourist trap. The Pulitzer Arts Foundation is also worth an hour if contemporary art is your thing. St. Louis takes itself less seriously than most cities, which makes it easy to move around and find decent food without overthinking it.