Train Celebrates 20 Years of ‘Drops of Jupiter’ in Virginia
Date: August 19th, 2021
Venue: Wolf Trap Filene Center
Vienna, VA
Oh hey there! Tell me, did you fall from a shooting star? Did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there…on the internet? What’s up everyone, it’s Derek here, also known as The Photographic Ginger! I’m back again with another night of music and this time we celebrated a very special anniversary while at Wolf Trap in Virginia. As you might have already noticed from the opening sentences, ‘Drops of Jupiter’ is the reason we gathered for this evening of music as Train set out on tour to commemorate the 20th anniversary of this iconic album. Although we met Virginia on their debut album in 1998, it was “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” as the title track from their 2001 album that led them to win two Grammy Awards and pushed it to become a double-platinum record.
Getting the night started though was another band that has been giving us hits and musical memories since the 90s. Vertical Horizon took to the stage as fans cheered as lights and low-end bass pulsated throughout the air. To kick things off, they hit us with rock vibes made all the better with multiple guitars found within “We Are.” Shortly after, I was transported back in time with one of my personal favorites “Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)” before going to a newer song, complete with an audience clap along to accompany, “I’m Gonna Save You” off their latest album ‘The Lost Mile.’
Rounding out their set, they played more songs from their beloved album ‘Everything You Want’ including a sing-along moment that tapped into the vocal range of the audience as lead singer Matt led those with low voices to sing “ooooohhh” while those with high voices added their spin to truly bring “You’re a God” to life. Finally, they got the crowd dancing and singing even more with the title track off the same album as they played “Everything You Want.”
Following a set change, “Jump Around” by House of Pain blasted through the speakers before the lights turned off and the sounds of a train engine filled the arena. As the lights came up, they were brought to life by Train, led by Pat Monahan, singing “She’s On Fire” which you may recall is also the first track on the ‘Drops of Jupiter’ album. Following a cover of Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova,” Pat then welcomed everyone to the show in Virginia before conveniently inviting us to “Meet Virginia” during which he took a brief moment to throw some t-shirts into the crowd, including one he himself put on just moments earlier.
If you follow Train on social media, you may be familiar with a few traditions that translate to social media posts. One of those being a few songs into the set, Pat takes out his phone and records the audience as he sings “put our cellphones up in the air” as part of the song “If It’s Love.” Another one of those moments came a little later during the song “Calling All Angels” where we all put both hands in the air and sang the lyrics “I won’t give up if you don’t give up” which truly is a magical moment that deserves being captured at every show, especially when you see the image that comes from the perspective of what the band sees on stage.
Although Pat mentioned that Train has a whole new album recorded and ready to go, he also said he knew how many fans want to hear their favorite songs when they come to a show, so although we didn’t hear a new song this evening we did get a well-rounded mix of hits from Train as well as a promise that a new song will be hitting the airwaves soon. Some of the songs that we did get to hear though included “50 Ways to Say Goodbye,” “Play That Song,” and a song that I sing in my head on a very frequent basis “Save Me, San Francisco.”
They even blended some classic rock into their set including a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California.” If you’re a fan of Train, this would come as no surprise given the fact that Pat’s voice lends very well to their songs and they’ve covered Led Zeppelin many times, including on the ‘Drops of Jupiter’ album where you can find “Ramble On.” More recently they released a full Train ‘Does Led Zeppelin II’ album in 2016. In the same stream of classic rock covers, Pat welcomed Vertical Horizon’s lead singer Matt Scannell back to the stage as they joined together to sing “The Weight” by The Band.
Before saying goodnight they continued with hit songs like “Hey Soul Sister” and “Drive By” all while fans continued to dance and sing along. In request of an encore, the crowd chanted their name and drummed on the seats and as the tempo picked up the band returned to the stage. They then played the first song that Train ever wrote and still is just as catchy today, that song being “Free” which was accented with a great guitar solo and a tiny touch of “Hold Your Head Up” by Argent. Then the time had come for the evening to come to a close as the lights faded and a spotlight hit the piano, the iconic notes play that began “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” as the place erupted and joined together to sing.
As someone who has now seen Train four or five times, I can say that it is truly a treat every time they are in town and I can make it to a show. With songs that will never fade and a talent for fun and great music, they should certainly be on your list of shows to see. From your favorite Photographic Ginger, this was certainly a night of music that I won’t soon forget and it’s a show you don’t want to miss. Train will be continuing their tour throughout the fall and you can get your tickets here. In addition, be sure to be on the lookout for new music releasing very soon!
If you happened to capture any shots of the night, tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.
