HEADLINER: TRAIN
SUPPORT: KT TUNSTALL AND JASON WADE
DATE: MAY 25TH 2025
VENUE: RIVERSTAGE, BRISBANE
REVIEWER: HAYLEY TREADWELL ( IG: realwoman_realreview)
PHOTOGRAPHER: ANDREW TREADWELL PHOTOGRAPHY
As we arrived at Brisbane’s Riverstage on Sunday evening, we were greeted by a sea of seats, not something you see every day at this usually standing only venue. But I loved the setup. It gave the space a relaxed vibe as did the gorgeous winter air with the sun setting as the crowd rolled in.
We were there to see American pop rock legends Train on the final stop of their Australian tour, their first time back in nearly eight years. The huge crowd showing just how missed these guys had been!
Supporting Train were the amazing Jason Wade (best known as the frontman of Lifehouse) and the equally amazing KT Tunstall. I was genuinely excited to see both.
Jason, joined by guitarist Steve Stout, opened the night with a stripped-back acoustic set that included some classic Lifehouse songs as well as a few originals. Hearing ‘Halfway Gone’ and ‘Hanging by a Moment’ acoustically were highlights for me. Jason’s voice was powerful and his and Steve’s on stage banter was funny and engaging. All in all his set was a great way to ease into the night.
KT Tunstall brought a different kind of energy to the stage, she came out ready to rock, her way. She was so much fun to watch, I was captivated. I wasn’t overly familiar with her music beforehand, but she had me hooked. A highlight for me, and clearly the crowd, was her cover of Natalie Imbruglia’s ‘Torn’ which was totally unexpected and completely brilliant and fit into the set beautifully.
KT closed out her set with her most famous song ‘Suddenly I See’, and the crowd was dancing and singing along with such enjoyment, a great was to get us ready for the main act!
After a bit of a wait (maybe a little too long), the lights dimmed and the rumble of a train played through the speakers. It was time. The band took their places and as frontman Pat Monahan walked out and launched into AM Gold, the crowd erupted and just like that, a party broke out at Riverstage.
People were up dancing everywhere all night. The energy was infectious, and Pat had the crowd in the palm of his hand. Song after song, we were treated to a mix of classics like Meet Virginia, If It’s Love, and Hey, Soul Sister, along with some new songs that the crowd loved equally as much.
One of the sweetest moments of the night came during the song ‘Marry Me’ as the crowd squealed in one section (happened to be our section) as a couple got engaged and then danced in the aisle til the end of the song,
Pat offering the happy couple some merch to say congratulations just made it all the more special.
There were also a couple of great covers through the night, including Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know, which KT joined them for, before also accompanying Train on their hit ‘Bruises’.
Train also delivered a powerful version of INXS’s Don’t Change, a perfect nod to being in Australia.
The band sounded incredible, with stunning harmonies and a tight performance from the band who just had a way of connecting with the crowd and each other on stage that you don’t always see. They were having so much fun and that energy radiated throughout the crowd all night.
Train closed out the night performing ‘Dive By’ with a little of the Beetles ‘Hey Jude’ tagged on the end which had the crowd participation at a real high, the then into the final song on the night, ‘Drops of Jupiter’, and it was absolutely magical. Everyone was singing along right til the last note! And we were still cheering as the band took their bows and left the stage. What an incredible night of live music.
Train delivered an incredible performance and I cannot wait until they return in the not too distant future, a suprise Pat told us of earlier in the night! They deliver such an incredibly fun show, I would go back and see them again and again.
To Train and the wonderful folks at Destroy All Lines, And Estellar PR, thank you for having us along, we had a fantastic night enjoying great music under the stars.
Until the next gig
Hayley
