Train pulls into Denver

One of radio's biggest bands stops by Alice 105.9

December 8, 2009

Train, the multiplatinum band whose song "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" has proven to be one of the biggest singles of the past 10 years, played an almost-too-intimate concert at the Alice 105.9 studios ahead of their show at the Ogden Tuesday, leaving a handful of lucky fans (and more than a few station employees) starstruck.

"Our goal has always been to play music that makes us happy," singer Pat Monahan said after a few rounds of foosball on Alice's in-house table. "We're from small towns,  so we always remember small towns and try to keep that small town attitude." 

The band's recent hiatus, from late 2006 until the middle of this year, helped them regain their perspective, Monahan said. For drummer Scott Underwood, that process included moving from California to Evergreen, Colo.

"It's just a great place to live," he said.

A nagging rib injury forced Monahan to clutch his right side throughout the band's short set, which took place in a small soundproofed room and featured stripped-down versions of "Meet Virginia" and "Hey, Soul Sister." His bandmates joked that it made him look like The Cure's somber front man Robert Smith, but his famous voice seemed to hold up just fine.

Afterward, Monahan talked about his hopes for Train's next stop: Red Rocks Amphiteatre.

"That's a big one," he said. "Performing there is definitely an experience I'm hoping to have in my lifetime."