REO Speedwagon & Train: 50 Years of Rock in One Show

An unexpected yet electric duo breathed energy and life into FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin, Tennessee with their incredible 2024 Summer Road Trip tour. Train and REO Speedwagon had people from younger and older generations alike on their feet singing along to every word from their combined discographies spanning from 1972 to present day releases. REO Speedwagon kicked off the night with phenomenal performances of “Don’t Let Him Go” and their hit song “Take It on the Run” before lead singer Kevin Cronin shared his personal connection to music city as being one of the first places where he felt like he truly belonged as a young musician. The band then rocked the house with “Music Man”, which Cronin shared was the first song he brought with him to Nashville and is what landed him his spot in the band. Pianist Derek Hilland then led the band beautifully into “Can’t Fight This Feeling”, which brought people to their feet holding up their flashlights and even brought couples to the aisles for some slow dancing. As a full moon started to peak out from behind the clouds illuminating the amphitheater even more, the band transitioned into “Time for Me to Fly”, upping the ante with incredible lighting and smoke cannons, featuring guitarist Dave Amato on a double necked guitar. At the end of “Ridin’ the Storm Out”, the band left the roaring crowd with their mantra of “rock and roll will keep you young forever” before showcasing footage from their 1985 Live Aid performance in Philadelphia, and then returning to the stage to close with “Keep On Loving You” and “Roll With The Changes”. Hearing a true 1980s rock group whose heyday was over 35 years ago still sound as strong and energetic as ever was an incredible feat to witness. 

Train didn’t just come to Franklin to play a concert; they performed a spectacle of a show that every single audience member found joy and excitement from. Featuring huge travel suitcases as their set, Train immediately set the crowd off with “Calling All Angels”, with Pat Monahan’s vocals coming through clear as crystal. From then, he immediately dove into “If It’s Love” whilst having people toss their phones on the stage for selfies and videos while he was singing, and the first couple of rows had a blast posing for photos and interacting with the band members. Kicking it up a notch, Monahan brought out a large film camera and asked the audience to pose and cheer, with the footage being displayed on the large screen behind him. It’s antics like these that capture the audience’s attention like no other and make Train’s concert an even more elevated and entertaining experience. But the fun didn’t stop there as huge beach balls were then launched and bumped around in the crowd during “Save Me, San Francisco”, and by the end of the song, Monahan started throwing out t-shirts into the crowd, including a signed one he had each band member sign while he was wearing it in front of the audience. 

Train got the crowd pumping with several covers, including an incredible rendition of “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims, “Too Sweet” by Hozier, “Hey Jude” by the Beatles, “Hotel California” by Eagles with opener Yacht Rock Revue, and Steve Miller Band classic “The Joker”, including Cronin popping on stage for a verse. Additionally, the band brought out Butch Walker, an acclaimed producer and songwriter and long-time collaborator with Train, for their new song “Long Yellow Dress” which Walker helped create. The audience’s voices rang out against the rock walls of the amphitheater singing along to “Play That Song”, and you could feel younger members of the audience belting out the words to “50 Ways to Say Goodbye” and “Marry Me” with nostalgia for the late 2000s and early 2010s. “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) made the perfect closing song, making Train’s concert one to remember for everyone lucky enough to be in that amphitheater.

- Lillie Hollabaugh

Photos Courtesy of Lillie Hollabaugh (For Bell Music Magazine)