Train pulled in with Jewel, Blues Traveler and Will Anderson at the Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, NC for the AM Gold Tour July 1st 2022.

Train’s lead vocalist Pat Monahan 

Blues Traveler

This fine evening I documented Train and Blues Traveler. Right off the bat, I was wowed by the sweet and powerful riffs laid out by the excellent band Blues Traveler. I’m not a music expert, but what I can tell you is this is the second time I’ve covered B.T. and they were very tight, and better than ever… I’m streaming them on youtube right now. Not to forget the rhythm section, I love the harmonica and keyboards too.

Blues Traveler currently comprises singer and harmonica player John Popper, guitarist Chan Kinchla, drummer Brendan Hill, bassist Tad Kinchla, and keyboardist Ben Wilson.

Train

Most often music photographers are only given permission to photograph the first three songs from the the area right in front of the stage i.e.”The Pit”. The band knows we are there. After all, during their whole tour from city to city they see us Pesky Picture Parasites crawling all over each other to get a good snap. For the first three with Train, us bugs caught the terrific lead vocalist Pat Monahan, working twice as hard as a mere vocalist in not only singing the songs but working the whole stage front to back and side to side bonding big-time with the audience. The opening song blew out with a fun explosion of confetti, the second song Pat ran from musician to musician (still singing). getting his T-shirt signed then ripping it off and throwing it out to a lucky audience member, as well as several more shirts, and in the third, deftly caught fan’s cell phones (still singing!), being pitched to him from the fans, taking a selfie with a view of the owner of the phone, then accurately tossing the phone back to the fan. This guy is working the amphitheater hard, bonding the band with the fans. He’s awake…and he’s working his ass off. I hope all those that make a living off this band appreciates it.

 As of 2022 Train consists of Pat Monahan (lead vocals), Taylor Locke (guitar, vocals), Hector Maldonado (bass, vocals), Jerry Becker (keyboards, guitar), Matt Musty (drums), Sakai Smith (backup vocals), and Nikita Houston (backup vocals).