Train keeps fans on their feet for much of the July 21 concert at Harveys in Stateline. Photos/Kathryn Reed

By Kathryn Reed

STATELINE – Three dynamic men had fans on their feet for nearly four hours Tuesday night as they sang, danced and wowed the full house at Harveys.

San Francisco’s Train headlined the July 21 concert, but it was Matt Nathanson who got the crowd grooving in a way most opening acts aren’t able to do. His charismatic stage presence was engaging to the point one has to wonder why he and his band were first instead of the Fray.

Nathanson showed his power as he launched into the peppy “Gold in the Summertime” under what were overcast skies left over from the afternoon thunderstorm. The clouds parted and the sun came out as if on cue.

Matt Nathanson has a captivating stage presence.

Matt Nathanson drummer Konrad Meissner was essentially playing before a home crowd since he was born and raised in Truckee.

Nathanson talked about the relationship people have to music, admitting he wouldn’t have survived his childhood without it. He connected with a trio of youngsters who had no inhibitions to dancing to all of his music; at the end he gave them each a guitar pick.

The Fray, which has been around since 2002, is led by singer/pianist Isaac Slade. But the sounds they produced were nothing compared to Matt Nathanson, nor could Slade’s personality come close to Nathanson’s.

Pat Monahan of Train sings his way through the aisles at Harveys.

Pat Monahan – front man for Train – proved why this San Francisco-based band is still a favorite with fans after 21 years on the music scene. So many bands just play their music, thinking that is enough. Many crank up the bass or turn the song into something that sounds nothing like the recording – to the point it’s ruined or unrecognizable.

Not so with Train. The sounds were rich and the atmosphere was like they were playing a private party for the nearly 7,000 people who were dancing all night.

It was pure entertainment under the stars at Lake Tahoe as they cranked out hit after hit in a 17-set musical showcase that also included three encores. This is a band worth seeing more than once. Train was here in July 2014, playing for another appreciative crowd.

In between favorites like “Meet Virginia”, “Calling all Angels” and “Hey, Soul Sister” Monahan interacted with the crowd. He is definitely a showman.

He joined Nathanson and Slade’s leads by getting off the stage and singing through the crowd. The three of them sang the Beatles’ hit “With a Little Help from My Friends”.

Pat Monahan, Matt Nathanson and Isaac Slade

From the stage Monahan eagerly took selfies with countless fans – taking the picture with their phones. He then sent pictures out on the band’s Twitter account.

Shirts – one that was even signed that night by all the band members as he was wearing it – were thrown to lucky fans.

Monahan showed his softer side just before singing “Marry Me” by giving a shout out to his wife on what was their eighth wedding anniversary. It was the only time a hush fell over the crowd.

The night started with “Just a Memory” off the band’s latest album “Bulletproof Picasso”. Singles from the 2014 “Bulletproof Picasso” have not gotten much airtime. Only “Angel in Blue Jeans” broke into the Billboard Hot 100 list. That didn’t faze fans — they knew the lyrics to most every song.

In November, Train is expected to release its first holiday album with the working title of “Christmas in Tahoe”. Three original songs will accompany covers.

“There’s a couple of traditional covers on there, but we tried not to do the same stuff everybody else does,” Monahan told Billboard magazine. “Like, our favorite song on it is from The Band called ‘Christmas Must Be Tonight,’ so it’s that kind of record where it’s a vibey, make dinner around Christmas time and listen to an alternative kind of Christmas album.”