Photo of Train live at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater by Carrie Ogle
It may have been one of the hottest nights of the summer in St. Louis, but that didn’t stop Matt Nathanson, Barenaked Ladies, and Train from bringing even more heat to Hollywood Casino Amphitheater on Tuesday night.
Matt Nathanson kicked things off with the high energy and humor that make him so much fun to watch live. His personality comes through just as much between songs as it does while he’s performing, and he had the crowd laughing throughout his set. Nathanson also has a way of working cover songs into his performances that makes them feel completely at home alongside his own music.
Barenaked Ladies followed and were an absolute blast. They’re simply a great live band, and their set was packed with the hits that fans came hoping to hear.
Some of the most memorable moments, though, happened between the songs. Before performing “The Big Bang Theory Theme,” the band challenged the crowd with, “Keep up if you can,” before joking that they’re probably the only band with the word Australopithecus in a song.
They also shared stories from their career, including the fact that one of their favorite places they’ve ever played was the Peach Pit backdrop from Beverly Hills, 90210. Between the hits, the stories and their nonstop sense of humor, Barenaked Ladies made their set just plain fun.
Then it was time for Train. They were the band I couldn’t wait to see, and they absolutely delivered.
Train opened with “She’s on Fire,” which honestly couldn’t have been more appropriate considering just how hot it was in St. Louis. They followed it with their huge hit “50 Ways to Say Goodbye,” and from there, the crowd was fired up.
Frontman Pat Monahan made sure the audience felt like part of the show all night. Confetti cannons went off throughout the set, and fans even started tossing their cell phones up to him onstage. Monahan would catch them, take selfies and photos while he continued performing, and then toss the phones right back to their owners in the crowd. It was equal parts impressive and slightly terrifying to watch.
During “Meet Virginia,” Train kept the giveaways going by tossing white T-shirts with VIRGINIA printed across them into the crowd. There were also a couple of fun collaborations during Train’s set. Matt Nathanson returned to join Train for a cover of John Mellencamp’s “Jack & Diane,” while Barenaked Ladies’ Ed Robertson joined them during “Meet Virginia,” which also worked in a little “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
Train made it clear throughout the night that they have a soft spot for St. Louis. The band talked about how much they love the city and shared that they had spent the previous day at Busch Stadium cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals.
With a set filled with favorites including “Calling All Angels,” “Save Me, San Francisco,” “Marry Me,” “Bruises,” “Hey, Soul Sister,” “Drive By,” and, of course, “Drops of Jupiter,” Train gave the crowd plenty of opportunities to sing along.
Three bands with very different personalities somehow made for one incredibly fun night. Nathanson brought the energy and laughs, Barenaked Ladies brought the hits and their trademark humor, and Train finished it off with a big, interactive show that never felt like the audience was simply watching from the sidelines.
It was hot, loud, colorful and covered in confetti.
Pretty much exactly what a summer concert should be. | Carrie Ogle
