This summer’s Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years In the Atmosphere Tour is offering some chips off the ol’ block amid performances by headliner Train and supporting act Barenaked Ladies.
Both bands take the stage each night with father-son combinations. Train brings out frontman Pat Monahan’s 14-year-old son Rock to sing and play guitar on a cover of Journey’s “Stone in Love” — going toe-to-toe with lead guitarist Butch Walker on the solos — as well as Dirty Heads’ “Vacation” (Monahan senior featured on a 2021 version) and the group’s own “Save Me, San Francisco.” Barenaked Ladies’ ranks, meanwhile, include Ed Robertson’s multi-instrumentalist son Lyle, 26, as a utility player handling guitar, bass, keyboards and backing vocals throughout the band’s hour on stage.
You can bet the papas are not hiding their pride in having their sons be part of the family business.
“It’s been pure joy, really,” Pat Monahan tells Billboard via Zoom, seated alongside Rock. He says his son “was born a 40-year-old man. He’s always been a mature, well-mannered guy that has a great sense of humor and talent and is easy to be around. It’s a thrill because he’s got a great work ethic; when people bring their kids on stage, if they’re not adults, people immediately go, ‘This will be cute.’ Then when it’s great they go, ‘Oh, sh-t! Karen, get your phone!’ It’s really fun to watch.”
