American rock band Train is scheduled to have a concert tonight, December 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Train is the band behind the Grammy award-winning song "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" and chart-topping singles "Hey, Soul Sister," "Marry Me," "Meet Virginia," and "Calling All Angels."
The members of the band are Pat Monahan (vocalist), Jimmy Stafford (guitarist), and Scott Underwood (drummer).
Earlier this afternoon, December 7, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other media met the members of the band in a press conference held at the Opal Room of Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas.
They were asked about their stay here in the Philippines.
Pat said, "We got in yesterday [December 6], from Jakarta, and we all wanna live here, because people are so nice to us!"
This is Train's second time in the Philippines; their first visit was on June 2010.
What do they remember most about their last trip here?
Scott said, "I remember being so surprised that... number one, there's so many people turned out to see us play.
"But also they seemed to be very familiar with our music, some of the older stuff."
He added, "It's so nice, we did a CD signing yesterday, and they're so thoughtful.
"As soon as we got here, there was sixty minutes...and eat. And so there were all these food ready for us!
"We were, like, so surprised, then grateful, and then when we got to the hotel, it's beautiful and nice, and everyone is just so accommodating."
The drummer of Train also revealed, "We have a lot of Filipino friends back in the United States too...
"There's something about you as a culture, that's just kind of...I don't know, so engaging, you know. It's so easy to be here.
"It took us a long time to come, the first time, and so now we just keep coming back.
"We have a new album that'll come out all over the world in April and a new single that will come out all over the world in January.
"So that will give us more excuses to keep coming back."
INSPIRATION. Since their music is a big inspiration to most people, what or who is their biggest inspiration?
Pat immediately replied, "My mother was a big inspiration for me, like...when you're growing up, and you're trying to find out what you're good at and who you are...
"My mother really encouraged me to just do whatever I want and not try to be something that someone else wanted me to.
"And she really encouraged me, then she passed away, and those songs were kind of gifts from her."
The Train vocalist also disclosed, "And 'Hey, Soul Sister,' I guess something out there just wants us to keep, you know, sharing moments of joy to the world and so...
"I don't know where these songs come from, but I just want them to keep coming."
SECRET. Train has been together for 17 years now. What's their secret?
Pat jokes, "I can beat these guys up, so I just tell 'em what to do or I'll all beat 'em up if they don't do it!"
Jimmy, picking up, says, "We tried to quit, but he's trying to beat us up, so we're still here!"
What's the most important thing that the band has accomplished these 17 years?
Scott said, "One thing we're really enjoying is being able to travel around the world.
"And it's really still bizarre to us to come here to Manila and have this type of thing happen.
"It's just...it's just a real dream come true to us, so I don't know, but pretty big deal for us.
"It's a really nice accomplishment."
Pat added, "Also, we've been in the band for almost seventeen years and I think that's almost...
"And so being together, the three of us, for that long, and if we can do it, it just means that...
"I think we'll do this forever, 'coz it's a lot of fun!"
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER. After being in the business for 17 years, do they want to achieve anything else?
Pat recalled, "We were just in Jakarta and there's a man there that put a show on, and he said, 'You know we get a lot of bands now, like more and more bands come to Asia.'
"But he said, 'You gotta do something different, where you bring people together.'
"And it was really special, and so I feel like, really, all we wanna do is just...bring more and more people together.
"He made a really cool point.
"He said, 'Politicians in the world don't bring people together, music does.'
"And I thought that was a way beautiful, inspiring thing to hear, because I feel like the same thing.
"Politicians seem to have some other interests in mind by bringing people together.
"And really, all we wanna do is share some moments in life and learn more about you [the people], the culture, what your music is, what your food is like, what your people are like, you know, and keep coming back.
"First time you come into any foreign country, I think is intimidating.
"And then the second time, you know, so enjoyable.
"You know, it's like there's no more being scared of...of anything.
"It's more like, I can't wait to get there because, you know...
"And then you can think of all the warm wonderful things about your country, your people.
"And so I think, the more and more we can do that, and just bring more and more people together, that's really all we want.
"The trophies don't mean anything, you know, achievements like that.
"I think it's, it's very nice that we learn those things.
"But really after all these years, we have learned what's important about what we do—and that's bringing people together."