Keep Musicking: Que syrah, syrah sister! The band Train started a wine club

They can say all they want that they aren’t making money off of it, but Train started a wine club. Patrick Monahan has even intimated that there might be Train wine in the future because their most dedicated fans obsess about every detail of Train’s existence. Apparently their foodie fans want to know what vintage the men of Train drink so they can drink it too.

Won’t it be lovely for the seriously obsessed to meet each other so they can carpool to events with wine, picnic baskets, and their 12 year old children in tow? Won’t it be lovely if they have a music festival in the middle of a winery? The band actually did play at a winery for the summer concert season Saturday, July 10th at Maryhill Wineryin Goldendale, Washington. Guitarist Jimmy Stafford’s selections were complimented in Slash Food.

It’s not surprising that a band might have other (alcoholic) interests when Sammy Hagar does business as Cabo Wabo. Seriously, though? Who is next? It’s widely reputed that Matt Bellamy of Muse drinks red wine after shows because it’s the only thing that doesn’t dry out his voice. Is the Bellamuse Winery destined for the light of day? Bellamy has often talked about giving it all up to run a farm with some sheep. Why not include a vineyard?

Former LA resident Maynard James Keenan from Tool lives in Arizona and runs a winery under the name of Caduceus Cellars as well as Arizona Stronghold. And while he participated in a Hollywood-style documentary called Blood Into Wine about making wine in Arizona, he still comes off completely badass. After all, he’s planning for when California falls into the ocean and he will be in the new Napa Valley running a bed and breakfast, growing grapes, and bottling wine in between tours.

He also comes off as completely badass when he stalks the stage shirtless in a cowboy hat while drinking wine straight from the bottle from his own vintage made in Arizona and not California. He did that at the Tool concert last year. In Keenan’s hands, it becomes far more “up yours” than “que syrah.” www.rcreader.com/news/blood-into-wine-feature Keenan also happens to be a descendant of Northern Italian wine makers, plus he exudes seriousness about this venture.

For Train derailers, it serves as one more reason why they just can’t stand their former favorite band. The wine club is expensive, even if you do get a free download. A download is a pittance compared to the $480 per year people shell out to belong to the wine club. http://stopadvertisingfrompullingatrain.info

Keenan’s wine club costs more. I’m struggling to recall why LA claims Tool as its own when he hates LA so much and has such a high price for his wine club. But then, that’s Keenan’s ultimate “up yours, LA!” LA still loves Tool so much that people flocked to two practically sold out nights at the Nokia Theater. And the music is amazing.