2008 Woodie Awards
Rock group Train hopes to be a locomotive for political reform
SPC-sponsored fall concert features popular band with MTV's Rock the Vote in tow
Jessica Bagar
Issue date: 9/30/04 Section: Entertainment
Since the release of their internationally-acclaimed single "Meet Virginia" in 1999, Train has become increasingly popular throughout the musical community.
In coordination with SPC, Train will be appearing at Marist this Thursday night, Sept. 30. MTV will be on hand as well, to advocate their Rock the Vote program.
Founded in 1990, MTV's Rock the Vote campaign encourages the youth of America to create positive social and political change in their lives and communities. As a strong supporter of Rock the Vote, Train hopes to encourage more young people to register to vote in time for the upcoming presidential election.
In 1994, singer Pat Monahan joined with Rob Hotchkiss (who left the band in 2003), Charlie Colin and Jimmy Stafford to form Train, a San Francisco rock band that succeeded virtually overnight. Scott Underwood later joined as drummer.
Although their first attempt to launch a record deal with Columbia Records was unsuccessful, the band was picked up in 1998 by Aware/Columbia after they independently released a self-titled debut album. Just months after this release, "Meet Virginia" found its way to No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. A year later, in Nov. 1999, the album was RIAA-certified gold and went platinum in March 2000.
Train's second album Drops of Jupiter was released on March 27, 2001, with its title track, "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" immediately appearing on several Billboard charts and becoming RIAA-certified platinum by June. "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" spent 53 weeks on the Hot 100 and won a Best Rock Song Grammy, stabilizing Train's position as one of the most well-received rock bands in recent music history.
The band continues to evolve, as evidenced in their third album My Private Nation in June 2003. Even the band members have seen sufficient growth as musicians and as people in general. On their Web site, Underwood says that since the band's inception, they have all developed both pofessionally and personally.
In coordination with SPC, Train will be appearing at Marist this Thursday night, Sept. 30. MTV will be on hand as well, to advocate their Rock the Vote program.
Founded in 1990, MTV's Rock the Vote campaign encourages the youth of America to create positive social and political change in their lives and communities. As a strong supporter of Rock the Vote, Train hopes to encourage more young people to register to vote in time for the upcoming presidential election.
In 1994, singer Pat Monahan joined with Rob Hotchkiss (who left the band in 2003), Charlie Colin and Jimmy Stafford to form Train, a San Francisco rock band that succeeded virtually overnight. Scott Underwood later joined as drummer.
Although their first attempt to launch a record deal with Columbia Records was unsuccessful, the band was picked up in 1998 by Aware/Columbia after they independently released a self-titled debut album. Just months after this release, "Meet Virginia" found its way to No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. A year later, in Nov. 1999, the album was RIAA-certified gold and went platinum in March 2000.
Train's second album Drops of Jupiter was released on March 27, 2001, with its title track, "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" immediately appearing on several Billboard charts and becoming RIAA-certified platinum by June. "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" spent 53 weeks on the Hot 100 and won a Best Rock Song Grammy, stabilizing Train's position as one of the most well-received rock bands in recent music history.
The band continues to evolve, as evidenced in their third album My Private Nation in June 2003. Even the band members have seen sufficient growth as musicians and as people in general. On their Web site, Underwood says that since the band's inception, they have all developed both pofessionally and personally.