Pop Quiz: Catching up with Pat Monahan of Train.
Train has finally delivered on its long-lingering threat to make a holiday album. The San Francisco band led by Pat Monahan, best known for softrock hits like “Drops of Jupiter” and “Hey, Soul Sister,” takes on standards such as John and Yoko’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” the Pretenders’ “2000 Miles” and Elvis Presley’s “Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me)” on its latest release, “Christmas in Tahoe.” The album, which is available in stores and digitally exclusively through Amazon, also includes three originals. We spoke with Monahan, 46, at his current home just outside Seattle. Q: It’s risky taking on something like Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas.” What made you think you could pull it off? A: To me, there’s no risk. I’ve never been in the cool band. I’m very grateful for it, now more than ever. Pitchfork is filled with articles about bands no one will care about again. The only risk was, will our fans like this as much as we do? It’s really a tribute to the artists we cover. I know I can’t sing a Donny Hathaway song as well as he can. That’s not what I was trying to do. I get to turn Train fans on to Donny Hathaway — people who may not know him like I do. Q: What does “Christmas in Tahoe” mean to you? A: At Christmas, all my friends from San Francisco go to two places: They go to Napa and they go to Tahoe. Napa is not where Christmas is at, but as soon as you drive in and smell those pine trees in Tahoe, it feels like Christmas. Q: So do you usually spend your Christmas in Tahoe? A: No, I haven’t done it in years. Q: You need to do your research, man. What if it’s all different now? A: I know. Q: Was it hard to go in the studio and sing “2000 Miles” while you were wearing sunglasses and sandals? A: That’s the most hilarious part of it. It’s in June and you’re recording the songs and the studio guys put up lights. Q: So what will your house be like on Christmas morning? A: I have two individual sets of children based on two relationships — a 22-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter, and a 7-year-old daughter and son that is 4 — so Christmas at my house is just weird. Q: Since your family will probably read this before Christmas, what’s the one thing you want? A: Man, you know, I don’t have the greatest relationship with my oldest son right now. That’s what I want the most.