Train and Maroon 5 are an odd pairing – Train with their trippie, hippie sing-along songs and Maroon 5 with their funky bunch of poppy soul, big lights and pyrotechnic-like effects -- but both put on brilliant performances that pleased a capacity crowd at the Zoo Amphitheatre on Thursday night.
Opener Matt Nathanson put on a decent short set to get things started. Nathanson is a little rough around the edges but he has some good songs. His self-proclaimed “apocalyptic love song for the end of the world,” otherwise known as “Room @ The End of the World,” was a highlight. He finished with his popular “Come on Get Higher,” coaxing many in the audience to their feet to dance with him.
A long train whistle blast and the sounds of a train chugging down the tracks ushered Train’s entrance onto the Zoo stage, where they quickly brought the rest of the crowd to its feet. Lead singer Pat Monahan’s voice on the opening notes of “Parachute” was a bit whiney, almost like a young Bob Dylan. But as perfect late summer night came on, his voice got stronger and more beautiful with each song.
He even did a near perfect cover of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.”
But it was old favorites such as “Meet Virginia,” and “Calling All Angels” as well as newer hits such as “Save Me San Francisco,” and “Hey, Soul Sister,” that truly pleased the crowd. The highlight, however, had to be when Monahan waded out into the audience to sing the beautiful ballad “Marry Me.” It was a magical moment between him and his fans. When he got back on stage he told the crowd he’d been warned not to do this as it might prove too dangerous. He thanked the crowd for being so kind not just to him but to each other.
It’s not just Train’s songs that are hits. Monahan himself is a hoot. He flits around his stage like a bird, dancing what almost looks like ballet. At one point he brought several dozen girls from the audience on stage so he could sing a wild version of “She’s on Fire” with them. He dubbed them an “amazing array of soul sisters from Oklahoma.”
Train’s guitarist and back-up vocalist Jimmy Stafford is amazing and the cellist touring with the band performed a beautiful cover of Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” before floating downstage to perform a Flamenco-like dance with Monahan.
During an encore of “Drops of Jupiter” Monahan let the crowd serenade him with the “nah, nah, nah, nah” chorus, letting it wash over him like the true expression of love that it was.
Then it was time for the big funked up sound of Maroon 5 with lead singer Adam Levine.
They amped the vibe up a good many notches when their bright lights, flashing graphics and smoke jets lit the night sky and the opening whistle of “Moves Like Jagger” pierced the air.
There’s no lack of innuendo in Levine’s songs, and he is such a panther on stage, dancing back and forth, putting on quite a show. His voice can go crazy high – when he talks at times he sounds like a young Michael Jackson -- but he still stays smooth and he plays a scalding guitar. He brings a lot of energy. He swung from pop to funk to jazz to soft soul with songs such as “Harder to Breathe,” “Misery” “Won’t go Home Without You,” “Never Gonna Leave This Bed,” “Wake Up Call” and “Hands All Over.”
Before the band’s encore, Levine asked the crowd if they had fun. He got a rousing response.
“Well this wouldn’t be possible without you being so enthusiastic,” he said, “so from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
His last encore song, “She Will Be Loved” he, of course, dedicated to the ladies, “Cause we love you so damn much.”
He became choir director for the crowd for several choruses before sending everyone off on a very high note.
0 comments:
Post a Comment