Artist description The voice and lyrics of Jon Houlon are what sets John Train apart. This is what the Smiths would have sounded like had they been a country band... True, songs telling of a love gone wrong are nothing new but the ability to uplift at the same time is a much harder trick to master. -- Paul Bronks, Americana UK

Music Style Folk, Country, Bluegrass, Pop, Rock

Musical Influences Townes Van Zandt, Byrds, Gram Parsons, John Prine, Rolling Stones, Jesse Winchester, Tommy Keene

Similar Artists Townes Van Zandt, Byrds, Gram Parsons, John Prine, Rolling Stones

Group Members John Train is: Jon Houlon, vocals, acoustic guitar. Mike Brenner, dobro, lap steel, electric guitar. Steve Demarest, bass. Bill Fergusson, mandolin, bouzouki. Mark Tucker, pedal steel, electric guitar.

Instruments guitar, dobro, pedal steel, mandolin, bass, drums, horns, strings

Albums "Looks Like Up" and "Angels Turned Thieves"

Press Reviews Reviews of Looks Like Up: (3 out of 4 stars) On the sophomore album by this Philadelphia folksy-country fivesome, singer-songwriter Jon Houlon steps confidently into his own...The growth spurt is most evident, though, in Houlon's songs and the easygoing, conversational way he sings them. -- Dan DeLuca, Philadelphia Inquirer Jon Houlon lyrically inflicts up his razor sharp wit through and through with the balance of the CD being held together by the tight unit of Brenner, Demarest, Tucker and Fergusson sculpting for the listener a virtual twang-grass soundscape. John Train, a new Philly sound in the making. -- Alternative Country.com The group's second record, Looks Like Up (Record Cellar)... both ups the ante of Houlon's songwriting and expands the group's sonic palate. Produced by Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner (who also plays dobro in the band), Looks Like Up is a record of weary interstate travel and last-minute declarations of good intentions, able to laugh at itself without ever devolving into straight jokeyness. It's a little bit Tom T. Hall and a whole lotta John Prine. And just like Prine, Houlon's wily enough to play with old forms and adept enough to adapt them to new ways... --Joey Sweeney, Philadelphia Weekly

Additional Info CDs are available at www.record-cellar.com

Location Philadelphia, PA - USA

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