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Trains Across the Sea is beyond comparison
By John Benson
When you’re an up-and-coming artist, comparisons can be problematic or odious, as Oscar Wilde said.
Just ask Trains Across the Sea frontman and visionary Andy Gallagher. He admittedly was lulled into typical comparisons before one fan reaction destroyed his confidence.
“The one we’re getting most recently is The Band, basically because they’re pretty talented musicians,” said Gallagher, a Perry native and Columbus resident. “Lyrically, I’ve gotten some Mountain Goats or Magnetic Fields. I’m one of those dudes who spends a lot of times on lyrics. The band is named after the Silver Jews song, so there’s a streak of that going through.”
He reluctantly added, “I try to delicately use humor when it needs to be used, and I’ve gotten some Jimmy Buffett, which is as bad of a comparison as you can get when you’re in a band.”
A Parrothead-friendly vibe notwithstanding, Trains Across the Sea is best described as an Americana act that sounds like Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61” era. For Gallagher, he calls it rock ’n’ roll, which he’s been playing solo or with a band for nearly five years. Formerly a member of Jeff Clark and the Crime Fighters, the Ohio State University graduate went his own way after realizing he actually could sing the songs he had been writing.
After going through numerous lineups, earlier this year Gallagher found his current backing band, which won’t be making the trek up with him for a solo gig Friday at The Lemon Grove. He said he’s excited about his Youngstown debut after hearing great things about the rock club.
“My friend is Max Sollisch, who plays under the moniker Dolfish,” Gallagher said. “He was on tour and spoke of the Lemon Grove. He said it was one of the best venues he’s seen in the country. So I said, ‘Hey, Youngstown is near enough, why don’t I start playing these towns?’”
As far as his set is concerned, he’ll be drawing material from his most-recent EP, “Thanks for Coming Out Tonight,” and his next full-length effort, due out sooner than later.
“One of our new songs is called ‘Call on Me,’” Gallagher said. “It’s a classic, straight-ahead soul number. There’s also ‘January Friend,’ which is sad and heart-wrenching. My material is definitely thinking-man’s music, or maybe it’s not. Let’s say people who sit and listen to lyrics. Then, also, I have a bunch of songs that go down the political route. So some vaguely left-leaning or old hippies from the ’60s might dig it.”
When asked if he’ll be playing any covers, Gallagher said. “I always have some Dylan ready to go just in case.”
And what about some Jimmy Buffett?
He quipped, “There will be zero Jimmy Buffett covers, ever.”