Train Finding New Success In Hey Soul Sister

The band train has been riding the tracks of successin July with second single "Two Ways to Say
again with its October 2009 release "Hey Soul Sister"Goodbye" following. Staying separated didn't last long.
from the album Save Me San Francisco. Based in SanIn April of 2009 the band returned to its three original
Francisco, California, the title of their album seemsmembers, leaving them without Johnny Colt and
pretty apt. The song has already spent sixteen weeksBrandon Bush. It was then they released their first
on Billboards Hot 100, sitting at #7 on the week ofsingle in over 3 years, "Hey Soul Sister". Monahan later
January 30, 2010. Train hasn't witnessed such successcommented how important the break was for the
of a single since it released "Drops of Jupiter" in 2001.band.
The band Train was formed in 1997 with members"I think taking time away from each other really made
Patrick Monahan (lead vocals) and Rob Hotchkiss,the heart grow fonder," Monahan said. "We realized
(guitar and vocals). The two later recruited Jimmyhow important we were to one another and taking a
Stafford on guitar, Charlie Colin on bass and Scottfew years off helped us all really look at ourselves and
Underwood as drummer. The group began touringwhat we could contribute to this band as opposed to
nationally in 1997, opening concerts for groups such aswhat we weren't getting from the band."
Barenaked Ladies and Counting Crows. The groupThe title of the new album "Save Me San Francisco"
was quickly signed by Columbia Records label Awarewas named due to the band's identity tied so deeply
Records. Their song "Free" saw significant airplay onwith the city. The group said they wanted to pay
mainstream rock radio. It was followed by the hit singlehomage to the Bay Area metropolis, a place the band
"Meet Virginia" a song that became a top 20 hit.holds dear to them. "Save Me San Francisco" is an
Before releasing their second album, the band issuedautobiographical account of Train's beginnings, and
another single, "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me). Not realizingembodies not only the spirit of the album, but also the
the success of the song, it entered the Hot 100 onsoul of Train as a band. Band members' say the
March 10, 2001 and spent 53 weeks on the chart. Thesong's lyrics take the listener through the three-piece's
song won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song ashumble start in the mid-90s up through the time when
well as a Grammy Award for Best Arrangement. TheMonahan, in particular, left the City by the Bay. "It's very
song's writer Pat Monahan stated the song wasrelated to my existence, but Jimmy, Scott and I have
written about a dream he had regarding his mother'sbeen through a lot together in the last 14-15 years, so it
death. The album became Train's first multi-platinum.represents a lot to them, too, because they don't
In June 2003 the band released its third album Myreside in San Francisco anymore, and we all miss it,"
Private Nation. Its single "Calling All Angels" drew greatMonahan said.
attention to the album, as the song became Train'sCritics say the album taps into Train's organic sound,
third top 20 hit. Other hits on the album included "Whenrecalling the blues and folk-infused rock that put the
I Look To The Sky", a song used as a trailer for theband on the map from the start. "It's pretty basic,"
2004 movie Jersey Girl. In 2004, their non-album songMonahan explains of the record. "But really cool
"ordinary" was featured in the Spider-Man 2 movie andbecause there's super catchy riffs and melodies in it,
later on NBC's Heroes.which I think are way more important that any
After this, Train struggled. They released their fourthproduction trick or great-sounding vocal production. It's
album For Me, It's You in 2005. It was Train's firstkind of us going backward so we can go forward."
album to fail commercially. With this, the band decidedThe band is currently touring with Butch Walker and
to take a break in November 2006. Lead singer Patthe Black Widows. We haven't seen the last of Train
Monahan released a solo album Last of Seven onyet.
September 18, 2007. Single's "Her Eyes" was released