Matt Nathanson, Barenaked Ladies, and Train Triple the Fun at iThink Financial Amphitheatre

By Erin Lee

Photo By Larry Marano

The Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years in the Atmosphere Tour kicked off last night in West Palm Beach, Florida and the audience was treated to a lighthearted, feel-good summer show.

Matt Nathanson opened the show. If you’re a longtime follower of South Florida Concert News, you know we love Matt: witty banter, audience participation, and sweet vocal harmonies with Nathanson and longtime collaborator Aaron Tap always make for an engaging performance. 

A tight nine song set provided us with old favorites and new tracks, including “Impossible People” and “Pablo Picasso” from last year’s King of (UN)Simple. We were also treated to a chill cover of Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl.” 

Matt affectionately refers to his recent EP of Joel covers Songs From the (M)attic as “a trip down the Joel Hole: a magical place.”

Photo By Larry Marano

Next on deck was Toronto’s own Barenaked Ladies. It was my first time seeing them, despite being a fan since Stunt in 1998. I had an idea their playful energy would translate well on stage, but I didn’t expect the amount of sheer joy I would feel seeing a band I’ve loved since I was a teenager. Lead singer Ed Robertson sounded positively lovely in person. Kevin Hearn, Jim Creeggan, and Tyler Stewart all bring their respective talents into the mix, making the band a quiet powerhouse of multi-instrumentalists.

Early tracks like “The Old Apartment” and singalong fan favorite “If I Had $1000000” were sprinkled into the set along with standout tracks like “Gonna Walk” spanning their discography. 

We were even treated to the Big Bang Theory Theme song! 

Toward the end of the set, the entire band came to the front of the stage for a medley of covers including “Pink Pony Club” and “HOT TO GO!” punctuated with choreographed dance moves! 

The band launched into AC/DC “Highway to Hell” as Robertson jumped behind the kit and drummer Tyler Stewart performed vocals. 

Headliner Train wasted no time pulling the audience into their orbit: dialed in playing before the scrim even dropped.

Photo By Larry Marano

Colorful crown shaped confetti floated through the breezy July air.

“She’s on Fire” and “Whipping Boy” were great to revisit from the early years.

Pat Monahan’s soaring vocals drifted across the amphitheater; equal parts light and powerful. 

Guitarist Butch Walker is a welcome new addition to the band’s lineup: injecting effortless rockstar energy, complimentary backing vocals, and monster sized guitar chops. 

Walker’s resume reads like a dream: producer for some of the biggest contemporary acts, (P!nk, Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy among many others) and successful artist in his own right.

I’ve been a Butch Walker fan since the early 00s, and seeing him in this role was a treat. He is up there having a wonderful time playing with his brothers in Train and it shows. 

“Meet Virginia” was given a fun “Country Roads” outro featuring Monahan, Walker, and Ed from Barenaked Ladies all three performing vocals. 

Collaboration was a thread throughout the evening:  Pat’s teenage son Rock Monahan undeniably killed it on vocals and guitar covering Journey’s “Stone in Love.”

More collaboration would come in the form of the live debut of a brand new, unreleased song called “Mad Dog in the Fog” featuring Matt Nathanson. It was an excellent addition to an already fantastic set.

The friendship and camaraderie between all three bands made the show that much more special and exciting. 

The night wouldn’t be complete without a “Drops of Jupiter” singalong of epic proportions, so we sang our hearts out and swayed like the palm trees flanking the sides of the stage.

Perfect ending to a perfect evening of music.