Sunday’s appearance by Train and Edwin McCain took place on a stellar evening for an enthused sold-out crowd that rarely stayed seated. The review and photos.
Enlivening: Pat Monahan and Train with exuberant fans at Meijer Gardens. (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
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From the get-go on Sunday, Train had the sold-out crowd at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park hyped up and clapping as the California pop-rock band unfurled its chart-topping 2003 hit, “Calling All Angels.”
It was a harbinger of things to come, after singer-songwriter Edwin McCain opened the evening with an engaging set of his own classics such as “I’ll Be” along with songs from his new album, “Lucky” — a performance that earned a standing ovation from fans.
Train, meanwhile, had the crowd belting out each and every lyric of “If It’s Love,” while taking videos and cheering enthusiastically throughout the set on a stellar evening weather-wise.
“Michigan just does it better, doesn’t it?” lead singer Pat Monahan declared to the delight of the crowd before launching into “Get To Me,” followed by the mashup of Train’s “Meet Virginia” with Steve Miller’s “The Joker,” all of which further electrified fans.
That was followed by another cover — Led Zeppelin’s “Over the Hill and Far Away,” which Monahan performed with his son, Rock. (The band also later covered Black Sabbath’s “Changes,” with Monahan noting the band attended Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance with Black Sabbath in Birminghan, England. His son also joined him for harmonies on the tribute to Ozzy.)
Monahan further endeared himself to fans by making reference to the Detroit Lions’ Super Bowl chances in introducing “Save Me, San Francisco,” even wrapping up the song with the line, “Won’t you save me, Detroit Lions.”
Other highlights included “Long Yellow Dress,” another No. 1 hit, “Hey, Soul Sister,” and
“Play That Song.”
As dusk turned to darkness and bright backlights began to illuminate the stage, the band performed “Drive By,” which morphed into The Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” with the crowd of fans waving their hands in unison.
The 1981 hit from Queen and David Bowie, “Under Pressure,” followed, with Train ending the night with its endearing favorite, “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me).” The sing-along induced a sea of appreciative hands in the air for the final moments of a night that fan Simone Stanford of Grand Rapids called “thrilling.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Train, Edwin McCain at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Jamie Geysbeek
