However, when the whistle blew in The Woodlands on this Friday night, it was the one and only band Train that everyone came to hear. And conductor Pat Monahan was ready to roar down the tracks and drive that bad boy.

While we waiting for Train’s 9:25 pm ETA, the crowd was taken for a ride that had a few other surprising stops along the way.

First up was Gavin Degraw.

He came out ready to show that he could have just as well been the headliner tonight. Judging from the crowd’s response to him, he may have been the main draw for many. Although I had never seen this New Yorker before, I look forward to the next time I have an opportunity. I’m a convert and he now has a place of honor as one of my favorite Pandora Radio stations!

This guy seemed like an extremely likable mix between Stevie Wonder, Jason Mraz,  Billy Joel and BC, the lead singer of the local H-town band Simpleton. Wow, this 36 year old performer is high energy, a little quirky, eager and engaging and had the audience eating out of his hand.

I was impressed he wandered out into the crowd of fans basically without an entourage of security guys. And when I say ‘out into’, I mean he REALLY WENT OUT – up and down the aisles, climbing into the upper seats, working to get close to the fans piled up on the lawn. He sang with his heart, without missing and beat and then he thrilled us even further by stopping, getting down on one knee and singing nose to nose to a young wheelchair bound boy.

You are a class act Gavin and for sure you have one more big fan as a result of your stellar effort to perform – really honest to goodness perform – without all the BS that is all too common today!

The Script was next and frankly should have been in the first, early opener slot instead of Mr. DeGraw.

This Dublin based band were good looking and enthusiastic, just a little anticlimactic after witnessing the quality of Gavin DeGraw’s set. Lead singer Danny ‘Long Tall’ O’Donoghue and his mates reminded my wife of a bunch of former Abercrombie models who decided to get together and form a band!

Way more people in the audience than I would have expected seemed to know the music and were singing along to most of the songs. Like, tonight, I am frequently reminded on how wide the music industry is and how many quality acts crisscross the globe playing to their fans without me having a clue they exist. I am familiar, however, with some of The Script’s musical influences such as U2, Chris Martin & Coldplay, The Police and Van Morrison, all performers I admire and respect. These influences were clearly reflected in their style of music and I enjoyed their set.

Pat ‘Train’ Monahan certainly did not lay across the tracks when it was his turn to pull into the station. He did so much more than just show up. Train had an impressive set that started with Angels, 50 Ways, If It’s Love and one of my favorites, Virginia.

Marry Me had Monahan out in the audience but it just wasn’t the same as what Degraw did earlier in the evening.  Judging from some of the glazed looks in the eyes of many female fans, it was probably wise that he did not put himself too far out there. Looked like he could have been swallowed up, never to be seen and more regrettably heard from again!

Save Me, San Francisco was another highlight and a big crowd pleaser. But no song captures so completely what turns fans on about Train like Drops Of Jupiter. With soulful lyrics like ‘did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?’, Monahan had everyone flying through the atmosphere right along with him.

My lowlight was when Monahan brought up his Mermaids (i.e. women from the audience who were invited to come up on stage and somehow become PART OF THE SHOW. I frankly was underwhelmed by this ‘stall tactic’. I know it seems to be a ‘Train’ thing and also seems to be popular with the female Train Trackers; you know, like Jimmy Buffet’s Parrot Heads?

I was able to put that bit aside and seriously, I am now way more impressed with these guys.  I thought their music was very entertaining, they worked hard to deliver a power packed performance for this loud and appreciative crowd.

I liked that they commented that they loved Houston crowds and had played at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. I was there and have to tell you that this show tonight was far superior.  There was no chug-chugging from this Train.  It was a blast from beginning to end.

Until next time please remember there is no time to kill.