Chugging Along with Heart: Train’s Energetic Set at the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival

Imagine the sun hanging low over the Mississippi, painting Harriet Island in hues of orange and pink, as the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival pulses with that electric festival vibe on July 18, 2025. The crowd’s buzzing—families on blankets, groups with coolers, everyone geared up for the night’s headliners. Then, Train rolls in like a well-oiled machine, ready to turn the park into their personal sing-along party. Frontman Pat Monahan bounds onstage with his trademark energy, but tonight, there’s a subtle undercurrent; he seems a touch less exuberant than his usual beaming self, maybe the weight of the weather looming or just one of those days. Still, the band dives right in, and it’s clear: Train always puts on a great show.

They kick off with the infectious intro of House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” getting feet stomping before Pat’s voice cuts through on “Calling All Angels.” The harmonies soar, and already, hands are in the air. Pat’s chatting up the crowd between songs, his banter warm but tinged with that quieter vibe. Midway through, he pauses to hype their brand-new track, “Brokenhearted”—the fresh collab with Gabry Ponte that dropped just months earlier in May. “This one’s for anyone feeling a little cracked right now,” he says, his tone earnest. “Let’s send out some love together.” The audience leans in, phones aloft, joining the chorus in a wave of shared vulnerability. It’s that kind of interaction that makes Train feel like old friends at a backyard jam—participatory, healing, real.

And oh, the hits keep coming. “If It’s Love” has couples swaying, while “Get to Me” ramps up the nostalgia. They weave in “Meet Virginia” mashed with The Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker,” drawing whoops from the ’90s kids in the crowd. Pat’s hurling T-shirts into the masses like confetti, sparking joyful scrambles and grins all around. There’s a funky detour into “Play That Song,” grooving under the twilight, and then—the highlight. As the opening ukulele strums of “Hey, Soul Sister” hit, the entire field erupts. It’s pure magic: voices blending in a massive, heartfelt chorus, bodies moving as one. Pat might not be at peak bounce, but his delivery is spot-on, raw emotion pouring out. They cap it with a snippet of “Hey Jude” folding into Queen’s “Under Pressure,” and close strong on “Drops of Jupiter,” the piano tinkling like stars over the river. Even as clouds gather, threatening the night, Train leaves everyone with that feel-good glow intact.

Stepping back, Train’s story is one of persistence and pop-rock reinvention. Formed in 1993 in San Francisco by Pat Monahan, guitarist Jimmy Stafford, and drummer Rob Hotchkiss, they scraped together their debut album in 1998, scoring an early hit with “Meet Virginia.” Breakthrough came in 2001 with Drops of Jupiter, the title track earning two Grammys and catapulting them to stardom. Through lineup shifts—including departures of key originals—they weathered a dip with 2006’s For Me, It’s You, then roared back in 2009 with Save Me, San Francisco, unleashing ukulele-fueled anthems like “Hey, Soul Sister.” Albums like California 37 (2012) and A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat (2017) kept the train rolling, blending heartfelt lyrics with catchy hooks. Notable cuts include “Calling All Angels,” “Drive By,” “50 Ways to Say Goodbye,” and “Angel in Blue Jeans”—songs that capture life’s joys and heartaches with unapologetic charm. Over 10 million albums and 30 million tracks sold, Train’s endured as radio staples and festival favorites.

That Yacht Club night, despite the abbreviated set courtesy of incoming storms, Train reminded us why they endure: songs that stick, a frontman who connects, and enough heart to weather any cloudburst. If Pat was off his game, it only made the vulnerability shine brighter. Catch ’em next time—you’ll leave humming, healed, and hungry for more.

Band Members

• Pat Monahan – Lead Vocals, Percussion
• Taylor Locke – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
• Hector Maldonado – Bass, Backing Vocals
• Jerry Becker – Keyboards, Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
• Matt Musty – Drums, Percussion

Most Likely Setlist from Minnesota Yacht Club Festival, July 18, 2025

• Calling All Angels
• If It’s Love
• Get to Me
• Meet Virginia / The Joker (The Steve Miller Band cover)
• Play That Song
• Angel in Blue Jeans
• 50 Ways to Say Goodbye
• Brokenhearted
• Hey, Soul Sister / Come and Get Your Love (Redbone cover)
• Drive By
• Under Pressure (Queen & David Bowie cover)
• Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)

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