» Train hit RoundUp for 1st ever stop in Calgary.

Train’s first stop ever in Calgary was to headline the RoundUp music festival.

The RoundUp music festival took place at Shaw Millenium Park in Calgary Wednesday July 11th – right in the middle of the week and Stampede Season. The stage was absolutely huge … and tall! There was a photo pit platform about 3 feet off the ground and the stage itself was about another 7 feet above that. Definitely not an issue for anyone to be able to see the stage … though for those closer up they couldn’t see the back of it – or the drummers even on risers – unless they were projected onto the big screens to either side of the stage.

If you’re a fan of music from artists that first made it big in the 90s then THIS was the place to be!

Grapes of Wrath

Canada’s own Grapes of Wrath opened up this year’s one day RoundUp music festival right on time, much to the crowd’s dismay because many were still trying to get into the gates. The older, classic Grapes songs were all sang along by the crowd … a few even started dancing … as would be expected with festivals! One relatively random comment about all the cowboy hats in the crowd and before the next song started all 3 members had been given their own to wear.

Grapes of Wrath, Round Up, PhotoByEGO: Grapes of Wrath, Round Up, PhotoByEGO

The Wallflowers

Started off the tech with some technical difficulties on the microphone – Jakob Dylan’s specifically – but quick scrambling by the crew while the band continued to play proved it was just a loose cable.

The sun was blazing hot and it looks like it’s getting right into the stage so I imagine the artists are going to be scrambling for the spf 60 … and needing to peel off the extra layers. Jakob Dylan managed a full 3 songs before the leather jacket had to be taken off.

: Wallflowers, Round Up, PhotoByEGO

Wallflowers, Round Up, PhotoByEGO

Goo Goo Dolls

Surprise guests Goo Goo dolls were announced less than a month ago – and organizers had to scramble to release more VIP for their fans who hadn’t planned on coming until they were announced. They had a quick meet and greet with some fans backstage before the Wallflowers went on …

Goo Goo Dolls, Round Up, PhotoByEGO

They put on a wild set – so much energy and they were all over the stage – both ends, front and back – and to get capture both of them in the same picture relatively close up was nearly impossible! I’ve never seen so many guitar changes in a set … EVER. Almost every image has a different guitar in it.

Goo Goo Dolls, Round Up, PhotoByEGO

Robby Takac was absolutely on fire and he may have slightly stole the stage from Johnny Rzeznik – but then Johnny couldn’t be TOO mobile singing all the lyrics and playing guitar.

Goo Goo Dolls, Round Up, PhotoByEGO

Train

Currently on tour with Hall & Oates, Train got detoured to make their first ever stop in Calgary to headline RoundUp. I think it’s safe to say Calgary made a good impression with the turnout and noise levels!

Train, Round Up, PhotoByEGO: If it’s Love featured a twist with “if it’s live” and Pat literally pulled out his phone and went live while singing and capturing the crowd … and a sing-a-long with lyrics projected onto the main screen in karaoke fashion.

Train, Round Up, PhotoByEGO

… and while Pat may be the expert in hitting the high notes, it really was cringe-worthy having the crowd try to make an attempt … but an A+ for effort !!

: Train, Round Up, PhotoByEGO

Guitarist, Luis Maldonado, is a Calgary native. He had some friends in the audience that bought a cowboy hat for Pat. He wore it on stage for part of a song, tossed out some t-shirts (further than the t-shirt cannon did earlier!), then had everyone from the band sign it and threw it out into the crowd in the front row. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite make it into anyone’s hands and fell into the photo pit – forcing security to scramble to keep a few women from trying to hop over the barrier to claim it.

Train, Round Up, PhotoByEGO

Various sizes of beach balls were tossed – and kicked – out into the crow – some several feet in diameter! One of the crew said it was their favorite part of the show – and the crowd kinda got into it but seemed to have the wrong idea in keeping the beach balls in play within the crowd but instead kept trying to hit them back onto the stage – I assume in hopes Pat would kick them back out. Some just tried to grab them and keep them because they had the Train logo on them.