When indie band Steel Train goes on tour, it always looks forward to its Tucson show, especially if playing at Club Congress.
The group has labeled the club as one of the best places to play and will make another appearance there Tuesday.
“”It is probably one of my favorite venues in the country,”” said lead singer Jack Antonoff. “”Every time we play there it’s a great show.””
Concertgoers can expect an energetic performance from the group, which claims to have great chemistry onstage.
“”Our chemistry really comes naturally for us,”” Antonoff said. “”I think a big part of it is that we are actually friends, and when I get home these are the people I hang out with.””
And friends they are.
Steel Train formed when Antonoff met singer Scott Irby-Rannier and quickly became friends.
Drive-Thru Records noticed the band’s potential and signed it in 2002. By January 2003, Steel Train added three other members and put out its EP, For You My Dear.
The record helped Steel Train form a good fan base, and in 2005 it followed up with its first full-length album, Twilight Tales for the Prairies of the Sun.
The sonic style that evolved can be put into numerous categories, but no matter what, it’s simply good music.
This is a sometimes rare discovery in today’s music scene, where you find bands that really don’t have much talent underneath their black eyeliner and tight jeans.
Steel Train transcends that category by creating music full of strong instrumentation and lyrics.
With its sophomore release, Trampoline, the group has continued that trend but also cleaned up its sound to make it less raw.
“”This record is one that we wanted to make for a long time but weren’t capable of in the past,”” Antonoff said. “”It goes along with the style of music that we have always liked.””
The main difference between Trampoline and the band’s past albums is a reduced emphasis on jamming and more focus on lyrics and instrumentals.
“”We are not jamming as much on this record. But the instrumentation is way more complex and more interesting than our last record,”” Antonoff said.
For the members of Steel Train, the jamming aspect is left for their live show, in which they can experiment more with their songs.
“”It takes so much to do what we do and to tour that if it wasn’t fun it would be impossible,”” Antonoff said.
Steel Train will be jamming out at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., on Tuesday. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the all-ages show. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Joining Steel Train will be King of Queens, which features Ace Enders, the lead singer of The Early November and Socratic.
