Train kicked off a 15-date, cross-country tour this month to get some face time with their fans before they go up for two Grammy awards Feb. 8. But the band is only hitting three cities, including Chicago, where they’ll play five sold-out shows this week at Schubas. Fifteen dates and three cities? Strange? Not necessarily. Singer Pat Monahan tells RedEye what’s going on.
Why did you structure the tour like this?
We came up doing these venues. And, really, how many people really want to hear our whole repertoire or just the seven songs that are on the radio? We decided to go into smaller venues to play songs we had 10 years ago. It’s not about cash–we’re squeaking by on this tour just to pay the bills. This tour is about our fans, not the cash.
What are some special things fans should look forward to seeing and hearing at Schubas?
Fans will hear songs from every inch of the way. And there’s a really good chance we’re going to [bleep] up [the songs] a lot. There’ll be train wrecks–I don’t know how else to put it. We didn’t have a whole lot of time to rehearse. It’s about getting back to where we came from instead of saying, “Let’s put on a big show, and I’m gonna wear my leather pants.”
On your Web site, you talk about the importance of jazz in your life. Would you ever consider doing a jazz-based Train album?
Yes, and we’ve always thought: Why don’t we incorporate jazz into our music? We got further away from it on this album. We tested the water on the last album on a song called “Getaway.” We probably won’t say, “Let’s make a jazz album.”
Would you ask someone like Kenny G to guest on the sax?
(Laughs) I would never in my life ask Kenny G–that’s not jazz. But would I ask a jazz musician? Yes.
What’s the most outlandish thing a fan has done to get your attention?
There was a woman at a signing for our first album. She asked if we would sign her back. She got on the table face down at a record store and pulled her pants down.
What’s currently on your iPod?
It’s not in use. But, I have lots of CDs that are in use. Right now I’m listening to Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue” and a Chet Baker album, “She was Too Good to Me.” I’ve been writing a lot, and it’s hard to listen to anything except music without lyrics when I write. That’s a big reason I listen to jazz.
Show Stop Train is playing five sold-out shows, Tuesday through Saturday, at Schubas.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Ben Delery (bdelery@tribune.com)
