John Train

Embodying a twangy, melancholic country gait wrapped within folksy bluegrass rhythms, the Philadelphia quintet John Train maintains its authentic character without resorting to brash volume to command attention. The group took its name from the alter ego adopted by the iconic Phil Ochs in the 1960s and 1970s. Formation began in 1995 when songwriter and vocalist Jon Houlon crossed paths with Mike Brenner, then playing dobro and guitar for Low Road and Marah. The pair launched local gigs across Philadelphia and issued their debut cassette, All of Your Stories, in early 1996. While supporting Burn Witch Burn, they connected with bassist Steve Demarest and mandolinist Bill Fergusson, both then performing with the Witch; the four pooled their efforts and, amid ongoing shows, cut a second cassette alongside world-renowned classical organist Joseph Payne, father of a friend. Fiddler Jay Ansill, formerly of Flying Fish, came aboard in 1997.

Following steady regional performances, John Train tracked its debut full-length, Angels Turned Thieves, featuring exclusively Houlon-penned material. Record Cellar issued the album in May 1999; among its reflective standouts were “Air of Gettysburg,” which conjures an atmosphere of quiet desperation, and “Trains Rollin’ By.” The sessions enlisted viola player Freyda Epstein, percussionist and drummer Mark Schreiber, and violinist and backing vocalist Rosie McNamara, while longtime associate Peter Humphreys handled mastering. That summer John Train appeared at the Appel Farm Folk Fest.

Record Cellar brought out the band’s second album, Looks Like Up, in October 2001; the title alludes to the late Richard Fariña’s novel Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me. Once more showcasing Houlon’s incisive songcraft, tracks such as “Misery Loves Company” and “Did You Come By Your Bitterness Honestly?” underscore John Train’s grounded, unsentimental stance. Guitarist Mark Tucker augmented the lineup for these recordings, and Peter Humphreys again oversaw mastering.