Insights into music and memories before Train’s tour stop in Jones Beach

Multi-Grammy award-winning band Train, featuring Pat Monahan as lead singer, is preparing to kick off their co-headlining Summer Road Trip 2024 with REO Speedwagon and special guest Yacht Rock Venue.

Train will stop by the Jones Beach Theater at Northwell Health on July 27 to perform both their classics and their latest hits for the Long Islanders. Since forming in 1994, Train is best known for their 14 songs that have made it to the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including timeless favorites like “Drops of Jupiter” and “Hey, Soul Sister.”

The Summer Road Trip Tour will visit 44 North American cities and celebrate Train’s iconic album Save me, San Francisco 15th anniversary, the whole tour.

In an exclusive interview, Pat Monahan shares his inspirations and memories during his musical journey, notable experiences from previous visits to the island and what Train fans can expect from the upcoming show and future releases.

Can you tell us about the influences that have influenced you in making music over many years?

It’s changed over the years. As a kid I was inspired by James Taylor, then Michael Jackson came along and then I loved a guy called Musiq Soulchild. Then we did a show with Carole King and I found her again. Right now I’m inspired by a band called Men I Trust and I love hip-hop like J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar. It’s always changing and recently we played Teddy Swim’s song “Lose Control” in our shows. When you’re a great singer and writer, it’s hard to beat that.

Do you have any special memories from previous visits to Long Island?

“Oh, I have lots. Long Island is a really great place for us. The first time we played at Jones Beach, Bill Murray came backstage and we had a great time with Bill. Years later, we played at Jones Beach for the first time and the tide was coming in and the first ten rows were in a foot of water. I remember jumping down and hanging out in a puddle with everyone else. I have such great friends in New York and last year I got to play some incredible golf courses there with good friends. The list goes on, there are always great memories of Jones Beach and Long Island.

You have your latest version, Long yellow dresson April 24. What was your inspiration to come back with another hit so fans can connect with and enjoy your music?

I was telling someone earlier that I had a dream that I hadn’t thought much about. I sent a melody to two guys in my band, which you can actually hear at the beginning of the piece. Then I sang about the dream I had where I was chasing a woman in a yellow dress that I couldn’t catch. I felt like she obviously didn’t want to be with me, but I wanted to be near that long yellow dress, and so I made a story out of it.

What can some of Long Island’s biggest train fans expect from the upcoming show at Jones Beach?

“We plan to share the stage with the guys from REO (REO Speedwagon) and the guys from Yacht Rock Revue. Yacht Rock Revue is an exceptional band that people are going to love. If you like yacht rock, you won’t hear a better band for it. Then REO Speedwagon will play about 30 hits and we’ll go up there and make the night unforgettable for everyone.”

What were the biggest challenges in your career and how did you overcome them?

Bands evolve and change. Having different bandmates over the years and finally finding the family you were meant to be a part of has been a long challenge and it’s fulfilling when you finally find peace. Also, it’s never fun to have success and then big failures. Leaving your family for months is always challenging and you try to make the best of it. Social media was very challenging in the early stages because it wasn’t my era, but now we try to have fun with it. Life is short and I don’t take it as seriously as maybe I used to.

Given your experience as Awarded multiple Grammys Artists, what do you hope audiences take away from the Summer Road Trip 2024 tour?

It’s the same goal as always. We’re the kind of band that, like the Yacht Rock Revue and REO Speedwagon, plays for families. In my personal life I swear a lot, but on stage that’s not my job. My job is to bring families together and create memories that they’ll have for the rest of their lives. That’s always my goal and it will continue to be.

Since New York is teeming with up-and-coming musicians and artists, is there any advice you would give to aspiring musicians embarking on their journey to the big stage?

Everyone has a different path, but I can tell you I have a 12-year-old son who is an amazing singer and my 15-year-old daughter is also very talented, but my son really wants music to be his life. And as much as I can guide him in many ways, the world of music is changing so much. With TikTok being the leading way to promote yourself, my son will know more about the industry than I do. He may teach me more about the music business than I can teach him, and it’s just a path that he’s going to figure out how to navigate.

You have collaborated with various artists over the years. Who has been your favorite collaborator and why?

I loved them all. It’s really cool to meet people you like, and then you work with them and like them even more. I performed onstage with Taylor Swift at the Barclays Center years ago, so I think I can probably sell her t-shirts on our tour this year. But they were all a lot of fun. There’s one memorable tour that I didn’t love, maybe two, but the rest were great. Whether it’s learning something you realize you don’t like, learning how to be a great leader, or being appreciated for being a good leader, all of those are special.

Can you give us some insights into the creation of your latest album? What themes or messages do you want to convey in your songs?

Because my songwriting has changed since I was a kid from despair, love, heartbreak, to new love and moving on, we’re now making an album that’s more Americana and reflective. I’m at an age now where I can look back on things and also look forward, but I look back at past experiences and try to reevaluate them. In the new recording, people will hear that thoughtfulness. Our new album, which is coming out soon, is a live album from the Royal Albert Hall in London. The one takeaway is that it was an incredibly inspiring place, with a room full of enthusiastic, wonderful people that I’ll never forget. I’m so glad we captured that on film.

How do you relax or spend your time when you are not performing or recording?

When we’re on tour, we do a truck workout to pass the time. I found out about it from the guys in the OAR band, who are also from New York. It’s a boxing workout that we do in the back of a semi-truck. Another thing I like to do is golf. I’m hoping to play some golf at Shinnecock (Hills Golf Club) or maybe the National (National Golf Links of America) when I’m near Long Island.