{"id":8796,"date":"2016-08-29T10:16:50","date_gmt":"2016-08-29T15:16:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/?p=8796"},"modified":"2016-08-29T10:16:50","modified_gmt":"2016-08-29T15:16:50","slug":"train-at-ravinia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/train-at-ravinia\/","title":{"rendered":"Train Goes Full Steam Ahead for Fans at Ravinia Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fans sing along to hits from Train at a showstopping performance<\/h2>\n
\"train
Photo Credit: Russell Jenkins<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s been a few years since Train appeared at Ravinia, and fans at the two-night, sold-out concerts were thrilled to see them back.<\/p>\n

The high-energy Andy Grammer, who began as a street performer on the Santa Monica Promenade just a\u00a0few years ago, opened the show. He warmed up the crowd with \u201cHallelujah – Good to be Alive Right About Now,\u201d \u201cHoney, I\u2019m Good,\u201d and his newest single, \u201cFresh Eyes.\u201d His pop\/rock music is upbeat and filled with optimism – and it\u2019s infectious, judging by the audience who sang along with every word.<\/p>\n

Bright lights blazing and flashing, Train ran out singing \u201cLet\u2019s Go Crazy,\u201d and that’s just what the audience did. Founded in 1993 in San Francisco by Patrick Monahan who continues as lead singer, Train showed why their popularity keeps soaring, even after 25 years. For Monahan, it\u2019s all about the audience. He engaged the crowd by taking selfies with their phones, throwing out beach balls and walking through the entire pavilion with the audience singing \u201cBruises.\u201d Then he toned it down a bit with the ballad \u201cMarry Me,\u201d which is played at just about every wedding these days. He introduced his newest song, \u201cPlay that Song\u201d and he said, \u201cI\u2019ll keep playing it until you like it.\u201d Wasn’t a problem for us. We liked it! Let’s\u00a0not forget that he donned a Chicago Bears t-shirt, had the band sign it, took it off and flung it into the seats. Wow! Imagine thousands and thousands of people singing, \u201cSave Me, San Francisco,\u201d \u201cHey, Soul Sister,\u201d and \u201cDrive By\u201d and you get the idea of what Train brought full speed ahead to the Ravinia stage.<\/p>\n

Coming up is Ms. Lauryn Hill on September 1, Marty Stuart, Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters on September 2, Bonnie Raitt on September 3, and O.A.R. on September 4. For tickets, go to www.ravinia.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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