Train rolled onto the scene with their self-titled debut in 1998. In the nearly 30 years since, the band has been through many lineup changes, experienced chart and critical success, and established themselves as one of the best live rock bands of their era. Train, joined by opening act Edwin McCain and guest guitarist Butch Walker, brought their summer 2025 tour to Mohegan Sun Arena, and it just might be the most fun you’ll have at a show this summer.
Please scroll below for MisplacedStraws’ Train live photos and review.
Edwin McCain is a perfect choice as a touring partner for Train. McCain, much like Pat Monahan and his bandmates in Train, truly enjoys being on stage and looks like he’s having as much fun as his audience. McCain’s 50-minute set spanned his entire career, from “Jesters Dreamers and Thieves” on his 1995 debut Honor Among Thieves to “Kool Miles” found on his 2025 release Lucky. McCain and his band approached the material with the perfect combination of skill and humor that makes a live show look effortless. Of course, the mega hits “I Could Not Ask For More” and “I’ll Be” got the crowd up and dancing, while the finale, made up of covers of “In Your Eyes” and “Crazy”, had everyone singing along. McCain comes across as an artist that’s comfortable in his skin and appreciates being on stage, I’d love to see McCain stretch out a longer set in a theater setting.
Train roared on stage to their recent single “Brokenhearted” and there was a noticeable change in the band lineup. Butch Walker, solo artist and producer, is filling in for guitarist Taylor Locke and is the perfect choice as a foil to frontman Pat Monahan. Jerry Becker on keys and guitar, bassist Hector Maldonado, and drummer Matt Musty rounded out the lineup, and provide what could be the strongest lineup of the band since the original.
Pat Monahan is one of the most underrated frontmen in rock. His vocals are spot on, his energy is infectious, and he engages the crowd throughout the set. Monahan is an expert at weaving his influences into his own songs. “Meet Virginia”, the band’s big debut single, morphs into Steve Miller’s “The Joker”, monster hit “Hey Soul Sister” features a chorus of Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love”, and the main set closing “Drive By” ends with the iconic refrain of The Beatles “Hey Jude”. Train also covers “Moving Out” from Billy Joel, who Monahan referred to as the “greatest American artist”.
Train and Monahan work throughout the set to make the crowd feel like they are part of the show. “Calling All Angels”, the second song of the set, featured dozens of cell phones thrown onto the stage, Monahan grabbed each one, took a selfie, and threw it back into the crowd. The band also threw t-shirts into the crowd and large, inflatable balls. Train works harder than any band I can remember to bring the audience into the performance.
Touring guitarist Butch Walker was a huge treat and surprise. Walker is a fantastic guitarist and singer who usually leads his own band but looked just as comfortable alongside his Train bandmates. Walker’s vocals melded perfectly with Monahan while his playing elevated the songs to another level. While Monahan is the unquestioned leader of the band, he was quick to give each member a spotlight, particularly during the 2012 track “Bruises”. The song was originally recorded as a duet with Ashley Monroe, but for the live version, Monahan went to each band member and let them sing one of Monroe’s lines.
The first encore of the night was the highlight of the night, an absolutely stunning cover of The Eagles classic “Hotel California”. Opener Edwin McCain joined Pat Monahan on vocals, with Butch Walker also taking a verse. Walker’s incendiary guitar playing just exploded the song into one of the best live covers I’ve seen in years. “Drops of Jupiter”, perhaps the band’s biggest hit, ended the night and sent everyone home with the feeling that they just saw one of the best shows of the summer.
If Yacht Rock evolved as a genre past the mid-70s to early 80s period, Edwin McCain and Train would be the leaders of a current version of the genre. Their music features sing-along choruses, listenable melodies, a sense of humor, but above all, they are great, timeless songs with multiple generations of fans. The packed arena is a testament to how well these songs have aged and how much fans still care not only about the hits, but look forward to new music as well.
