Lead singer Pat Monahan began their set with “Just a Memory.” “Good evening, Jones Beach,” he told the Long Island audience, prior to thanking them for being there. It was followed by the upbeat and fun “50 Ways to Say Goodbye,” as vibrant laser lights graced the stage.
For “If It’s Love,” Monahan went around takes selfies with the fans’ cell phones, while “Angel in Blue Jeans” featured a neat ocean backdrop.
“Jones Beach, are you with me so far?” Monahan asked. “Look how beautiful you guys look. Even though it is a Tuesday night, it feels like a Saturday night,” he added, prior to throwing various Train T-shirts to his fans.
During “Meet Virginia,” yellow lights dimmed from the stage as they emerged from rectangle stage props, and Monahan nailed the lead vocals.
He introduced “Free” as their breakthrough single, and he paid homage to George Michael with a soaring cover of “Freedom 90.”
It was followed by “When I Look to the Sky,” their hit single “Calling All Angels,” as well as “Bruises,” which Monahan sang without Ashley Monroe, and he went into the crowd during this performance.
Following “Save Me, San Francisco” and “Wonder What You’re Doing for the Rest of Your Life,” he brought young fans onstage with him to assist him with the chorus of Little Eva’s classic hit “The Loco-motion,” which was a real treat.
It is safe to say that Train saved the best three vocals for last, which included the gorgeous love ballad “Marry Me,” where his velvet vocals were tender and controlled. Equally superb was their Grammy-winning “Hey, Soul Sister” and they concluded on an up-tempo note with “Drive By,” thus leaving their fans wanting more.
For their encore, the band returned with their title track of their latest studio album “Bulletproof Picasso” and Monahan paid homage to Aerosmith by belting out “Dream On.” They closed with their signature song “Drops of Jupiter.”
The Verdict
Overall, Train was sensational at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater. Monahan interacted well with the fans and he allowed his powerhouse vocals to do all the talking. Their songs were catchy and they manage to strike a chord in the hearts of their listeners, despite the somewhat rainy weather. Their live show garnered 4.5 out of 5 stars.
