Early Aughts Nostalgia Reigns Supreme as “Drops of Jupiter” Brings Waves of Joy to South Florida – Photos and Review of the Train, Barenaked Ladies and Matt Nathanson Concert at the iThink Financial Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, FL

Under a sweltering South Florida sky that seemed to hold its breath all day, the iThink Financial Amphitheater in West Palm Beach buzzed with an electric anticipation on Wednesday night. The special occasion that brought thousands of fans out in the heat was the kickoff of Train’s “Drops of Jupiter 25th Anniversary Tour”, a milestone that promised a deep dive into nostalgia for the excited fans who packed the venue. As the sun dipped below the tree line and the first cool breeze of the evening swept across the lawn while people spread out their blankets and chairs, the opening acts got ready to kick off a celebration of songs that have served as the soundtrack to countless lives.

The evening began with the infectious energy of Matt Nathanson, who wasted no time in transforming the vast amphitheater into an intimate living room. Armed with just his acoustic guitar and razor-sharp wit, Nathanson proved to be the perfect warm-up for the night. Seamlessly blending heartfelt renditions of original hits like “Come On Get Higher” with hilarious tangents and soaring covers like Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl“, he had the audience in the palm of his hand throughout his time on stage, and his ability to balance self-deprecating humor with genuine emotional depth set a tone of joyful sincerity that would carry through the entire night.

As the stage lights shifted and the energy in the venue swelled as more of the crowd filled in their seats, Barenaked Ladies exploded onto the stage like a confetti cannon filled with pure fun. The Canadian quartet, masters of their own genre-blending universe, delivered a career-spanning set that was equal parts musical prowess and improvisational comedy. From the acrobatic wordplay of “One Week” to the timeless, sun-drenched nostalgia of “Pinch Me”, every song was a full-band conversation with the audience. Frontman Ed Robertson was a whirlwind of energy, spinning stories and cracking jokes, while the rhythm section of Jim Creeggan and Tyler Stewart laid down grooves that were impossibly tight yet playfully loose. By the time they closed with the inevitable and euphoric hits “If I Had $1,000,000” and “Lovin’ Life“, the entire amphitheater was a sea of dancing, smiling faces, fully primed for the main event.

When the house lights finally dimmed and the iconic Train logo lit up on the massive curtain blocking the stage, a wave of emotion rippled through the crowd. As the curtain dropped, Pat Monahan emerged to a deafening roar and the band launched into the “The Weekend” and “50 Ways to Say Goodbye“. Monahan’s voice, a timeless instrument of soulful clarity, has lost none of its power as he navigated the wistful storytelling of “She’s on Fire” and the gritty introspection of “Whipping Boy” with the seasoned grace of a performer who understands the weight these songs carry for his fans.

The setlist was a journey though-out Train’s massive 25+ year catalogue, with the band even debuting a brand new song “Pennsylvania Turnpike” and bringing out Pat’s son Rock to play guitar on a few songs. Train, long anchored by the effervescent energy of bassist Hector Maldonado and the foundational keys of Jerry Becker, sounded colossal as they were joined by the recent addition of Butch Walker on lead guitar. One of the most breathtaking moments occurred mid-set during “If Its Love” which saw the amphitheater transform into a planetarium of ten thousand cell phone lights. For the encore, Train returned to their roots by delivering a roof-raising version of “Drive By” before closing with the irrepressible joy of “Drops of Jupiter”.

As confetti blanketed the crowd and the final chords of the Drops of Jupiter 25th Anniversary Tour’s title track faded into the humid Florida night, the shared euphoria lingered like the fog on stage. The night was a three-hour journey through the music that has shaped a generation’s most cherished memories, and from Matt Nathanson’s heartfelt humor to Barenaked Ladies’ unrelenting joy and Train’s transcendent, soul-stirring finale, the night was a masterful reminder of why we gather in the dark to sing together in the first place. For one perfect evening at the iThink Financial Amphitheater, the years fell away, and everyone in attendance was simply a kid again, staring up at a starry sky and believing that the best is yet to come.