Concert Review - Train - Auckland - 28th May 2025

Presented By Destroy All Lines

Train Live in Auckland - Photo Credit Ginny Cocks

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL TRAIN GALLERY BY GINNY COCKS

Review By: Sarah Kidd

Artist/Band: Train Supported by Mel Parsons

Venue/City: Great Auckland Town Hall, Auckland, New Zealand

Date of Event: Wednesday 28th May 2025

It was all aboard the locomotive of nostalgia and good vibes last night as San Francisco band Train rolled into town for a one-off New Zealand show.

Formed in 1994 the band have had an interesting career, they have won several Grammy’s, achieved multiple platinum and gold certifications, gone on hiatus, made comebacks, and changed line-ups.
But the one thing that has remained constant is the undeniable energy and talent of vocalist Pat Monahan, whose voice was the soundtrack to millions of people’s lives throughout the past three decades.

To open the show Aotearoa’s own Mel Parsons who delivered a wonderful set of indie folk, alternative goodness to the ever-growing crowd armed with nothing more than her acoustic guitar and a stunning shimmering gold shawl. Definitive highlight had to be ‘Far Away’ from her Drylands album.

Headlining her own show at The Tuning Fork on the 6th of June, it will be an evening guaranteed to be the highlight of anyone’s musical calendar.

Laying down some throwbacks to entertain the crowd, the sounds of Usher, Nelly and even the House of Pain classic ‘Jump Around’ ensured that the fans dancing shoes were primed and ready to go as Train made their arrival, the fans welcoming them with open arms.

Kicking it off with ‘Am Gold,’ ’50 Ways to Say Goodbye’ and ‘If It’s Love’ it was evident that despite the simple stage set up, which featured minimal lighting and subtle smoke, Train had brought their A game for the final show of this leg of the tour.

Monahan’s voice, crystal clear but with that endearing edge of raspiness that has always made him recognisable was in fine form; dressed in black he worked the entire stage, moving from one side to the next while connecting with the fans consistently. All smiles, he often held the microphone out to those down front with a cheeky twinkle of the eye as if challenging them to sing a long before asking them all to break loose for his personal insta reels.

Taking it back ‘Meet Virginia’ mixed expertly with ‘The Joker’ by Steve Miller Band, saw Monahan fire out t-shirts using only one hell of an arm. Like a quarterback from a pro NFL team, Monahan launched t-shirts (including a much coveted signed by the entire band one) far into the back of the balcony section of the Town Hall much to the surprise and instantaneous delight of all in attendance.

There was little banter between songs, Train preferring to let their music do the talking as they moved through a mix of their own tracks such as ‘Save Me, San Francisco’ and popular covers. ‘Lose Control’ by Teddy Swims was well played despite even a seasoned vocalist such as Monahan not being able to replicate those soulful tones that Swims delivers in spades.

While ‘Bruises’ and ‘Parachute’ showed their more emotional side - Taylor Locke on lead guitar and Hector Maldonado on bass not only providing the musical accompaniment but harmonious backing vocals as well – it was Monahans request to sing ‘Always Midnight’ acapella from his solo album Last of Seven that silenced the entire room.

Dropping the house lights, Monahan commanded the moment as fans almost held their breath to ensure he was given the utmost respect in this moment as he sang a track that held great personal meaning to him.

Slowly coming in on keyboards, Jerry Becker perfectly accompanied Monahan without taking away from the performance, Locke and Maldonado providing almost angelic backing vocals towards the end of the song. It was a moment rarely seen in live performances such as these, and one that will be treasured by many for years to come.

‘Marry Me’ and ‘Calling All Angels’ carried almost as much weight, the longing in Monahans voice as he sang the latter, seeing more than one couple in attendance snuggle in closer; others preferring to close their eyes and let the melody wash over them.

But the evening was fast coming to a close, and Train were determined to leave Auckland on a high note. It was time for the big guns, the first being ‘Hey Soul Sister’ spliced together with a little ‘Come and Get Your Love’ by Redbone, the entire auditorium singing in unison, which only got louder as ‘Drive By’ came rolling in behind.

A palette cleanser of the non-lexical chorus of The Beatles ‘Hey Jude’ saw even those normally shy of singing in public raise their arms in the air and join in, the sheer joy of the moment reverberating throughout.

Monahan then took a moment to express how normally they would leave the stage and “waste people’s time” for a few moments playing the encore game, but he didn’t want to waste Auckland’s time nor his own so instead was it ok with everyone if they just played a couple of songs instead. Unsurprisingly the answer was a resounding yes.

However, what followed was something truly special, a rendition of one of the greatest songs of all time; ‘Hotel California.’ Train may not have been the first band to cover it, and they certainly won’t be the last but their rendition was superlative, especially when both Becker and drummer Matt Musty joined Locke and Maldonado on guitars – Locke playing a double-neck no less – to provide a rich and evocative guitar line that knocked it out of the park, Monahan showing that he wasn’t just a one trick pony either as he took over on drums. Phenomenal.

To close what had been an absolutely ebullient evening of music, ‘Drops of Jupiter’ to serenade their followers into the night with love in their hearts and smiles on their faces.

With Monahan announcing that they had already been signed for a New Zealand show in 2027, there is no doubt that fans will return for round two in absolute droves. And who could blame them.

SET LIST
AM Gold
50 Ways to Say Goodbye
If It’s Love
Get To Me
Meet Virginia / The Joker
Save Me, San Francisco
Lose Control – Cover Teddy Swims
Bruises
Yellow Dress
Play That Song
Parachute
Angel in Blue Jeans – Cover Hozier
Always Midnight
Marry Me
Calling All Angels
Hey, Soul Sister / Come and Get Your Love
Drive By
Hotel California – Coover The Eagles
Drops of Jupiter

TRAIN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND 2025 TOUR PR

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