Pat Monahan, lead singer for Train, takes a selfie for a fan. Photo/Kathryn Reed

By Susan Wood

STATELINE – Train’s lead singer Pat Monahan and company continued its special connection with Lake Tahoe Sunday night, adding the Harveys Outdoor Summer Concert Series on its latest tour – A Girl, A Bottle and A Boat.

With Natasha Bedingfield and O.A.R. opening on the warm summer night, this was one of the last stops on a tour named after the Grammy award-winning band’s 10th album written to exemplify life on a boat with your favorite person and a bottle of wine. The ensemble showed the seven-member Americana group hasn’t lost its touch with a packed and engaged audience.

“Lake Tahoe, you look amazing,” Monahan screamed out to the dedicated, adoring fans on July 9.

The San Francisco-based band has somewhat transformed from its earlier days with former front-man guitarist Jimmy Stafford, but its music’s catchy style lives on. Most recently, the sentimental “Play That Song” had the crowd belting out the words set to the melody of the 1938 classic “Heart and Soul.” The accomplishment speaks volumes for a rock band that stands the test of time and reaches generation after generation.

People were standing and dancing as Train played hit after hit on July 9. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Anna Denis from Alaska turned a visit to see her daughter Rachael in Reno into a mother-daughter Train excursion.

“I love Pat Monahan, especially his (vocal) range,” the mother said.

Amber Little of Carson City rocked out with both her daughters and fiancé while most of the night on her feet like the majority of concertgoers.

“I thought this would be a good concert as their first concert,” she said of her two teenage girls.

Monahan has always maintained a unique appeal with fans young and old. Following “50 Ways to Say Goodbye,” the third number of the night – “If It’s Love” – prompted about a dozen fans to toss their cellular phones up on stage for Monahan to take selfies with the fans in the background.

Even though the band is on tour with new material, the older smash hits are what got the audience swaying, bobbing, punching beach balls and dancing all night.

“Tahoe, how do you like it so far?” Monahan yelled out to check in with “Angel in Blue Jeans” from 2014’s “Bulletproof Picasso” album.

For Train’s 2009 signature hit “Save Me, San Francisco,” the entire capacity crowd joined in on the lyrics.

The love fest continued with its 2003 blockbuster tune “Calling All Angels,” which the audience dominated with its high-energy singalong.

“Think of all the people who need our love right now,” Monahan told the crowd, as he placed his clenched fist at his chest.

The heartfelt tribute to humanity carried on when he brought Bedingfield back on stage to join the band in “Bruises,” a tune off the 2012 album “California 37” – which was named after the popular North Bay highway that runs west of Vallejo.

Bedingfield, an English singer known for her mega hit “Pocketful of Sunshine,” represented a fitting opening act in terms of engaging the audience.

She was followed by O.A.R. (which stands for “Of A Revolution”). The Maryland-based rock band is known for and also delivered on its Top 40 number “Shattered” and most recently its touching tune “Peace.” The latter tribute to choosing love versus arguments prompted many to raise their hands with peace signs.

In turn, Monahan sat down with his solo guitar to vocally caress the audience with his own song about relationships, “Marry Me” – a popular wedding song.

“That’s what I like,” Vernon Sallaz of San Luis Obispo said. “My wife and I got married here in Tahoe 35 years ago.”

The connection between Monahan, his band and the Tahoe audience was unmistakable – even if the younger set barely remembers the old tunes.

“Does anybody even remember this song?” Monahan said, interrupting his 1996 early hit “Meet Virginia.” The crowd reciprocated with a roar, and that notion was put to rest.

Pat Monahan has a way with connecting with the audience. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Off the new album, Train backed up “Working Girl” with video images of superstar icons such as tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams with Billie Jean King as well as television personalities Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres and Tina Fey.

Most of the concert was spent honoring and playing the old, recognizable favorites – from the ever-jumpy “Drive By” and sing-along tune “Hey, Soul Sister” to two encores. One was a perfect rendition of Queen’s top hit with David Bowie’s “Under Pressure,” which featured a video clip in the background of Queen lead man Freddie Mercury.

The last segment represented the most inner poignant tribute to Monahan’s mother who died of cancer – “Drops of Jupiter,” which came to the singer in a dream.

Genuine and versatile, Monahan showed his songwriting prowess on several occasions including during “When I Look to the Sky,” a tribute for anyone who has ever lost someone they love. He sat down on the stage with his band during this acoustical number for a moment of tranquility and togetherness.

Monahan even brought out O.A.R. with lead singer Marc Roberge in a white dinner jacket to help out with Paul Simon’s hit “You Can Call Me Al.” Simon opened the concert series a few weeks ago.

The Harveys concerts continue with Lenny Kravitz taking the stage on July 14, July 16 with Third Eye Blind; July 28 and 29 with Jack Johnson; Aug. 4 with Slightly Stoopid; Aug. 16 with The Who; Sept. 1 with Linkin Park; and Sept. 2 and 3 with Eric Church.