“Lots of parents, kids, diapers and sippy cups” is how Vince Schreck describes the typical audience at a Toy Trains show.
The Toy Trains includes Schreck on vocals and acoustic guitar, Daren Claymon on vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica, Paul Prato on upright bass, Brett Donis on drums, Tricia Rojas on vocals and violin, Christian McKee on vocals and mandolin and Alan Bowen on banjo and dobro.
The Toy Trains draws its band members from three former Portland bands: Vince Schreck & The Expendables, Rustica and Tin Silver.
“All three former bands played a rootsy-Americana-style of music…We’ve all been fans of the various bands. It was inevitable that we all play together sooner or later,” Schreck said.
He explained that while his previous band had experienced some great gigs, the Americana audience in Portland is finite and there are few places to play with regular crowds.
“[We] were barely making $30 as a whole band at shows,” Schreck said, referring to his previous band, The Expendables.
Around the time that Schreck started feeling like it was time to disband the entire project, he heard kids’ music at Peanut Butter & Ellie’s Café around 2005. After asking the server who the singer was, she replied, “Dan Zanes.”
“That was when I experienced my first epiphany. Dan Zanes is a former indie-rocker from the ‘80s…It took me about a month to realize that Dan Zanes was the singer in the Del Fuegos,” Schreck said.
The Del Fuegos’ record Boston, Mass was inspirational to Schreck during his early college years.
“Later that year, I was driving by the Aladdin Theater on a Sunday afternoon. I noticed a line all the way around the building. I said to my wife, ‘Who is playing the Aladdin on a Sunday afternoon?’ Sure enough, it was Dan Zanes’ name on the marquee,” Schreck said.
“I remember thinking, ‘Look at all the kids with their parents going to see music.’ That was the second epiphany,” Schreck said.
A year went by before Schreck and his son went to see Zanes at the Aladdin.
“[Zanes performed] two shows that day, and I think they were both sold-out—or close!…I kept thinking, I could probably play a lot of his songs…I also thought that I could write my own kids’ music,” Schreck said.
“That third epiphany was all I needed to put the band in motion. I called up the Expendables’ musicians and asked, ‘Do you want to play music for kids?’ They were all on board,” Schreck said.
The Toy Trains fills their set with covers of Dan Zanes, Tom Waits, The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Neil Young, but also writes original kids songs.
“When I look for music to play, I try to think of songs that will work well for our style of playing first. Then I think, ‘Will the band enjoy playing the song?’ Then I think, ‘Will the families like this song?'” Schreck said.
He describes his shows as very family-friendly. The audience includes kids sitting in strollers, kids ages three to eight dancing and moving, parents holding their kids while dancing, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
“It feels like a big family reunion in some ways,” Schreck said.
Shows are held at a reasonable hour, usually finishing by 7 p.m. at the latest, so kids have time to get home for their regular bedtime routine.
Most shows close with an old-time medley of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, This Land Is Your Land, the Alphabet Song, and Coming ‘Round the Mountain. A round of kids voices will kick it all off with a count of “one, two, three, four” à la Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.” The Toy Trains has the audience get involved, including verses just for adults.
“Portland’s parents are crazy about their kids…I’ve had many parents come up to me after shows who are thankful that we play rock music that’s suitable for the whole family,” Schreck said. “We’ve spent a lot of time crafting our sound, so we sound like a rock band, but we’re quiet enough to not hurt little ears.”
Schreck has two children, ages two and six. Other band members, Donis, Rojas and Bowen all have young kids as well. Prato’s sister has kids.
“Everyone, whether they have kids or not, relates well to children,” Schreck said. “I often asked my son for feedback, and he always tells me his favorite song. If he tells me he doesn’t like a song, I take it out of the set.”
Schreck said he wishes he could play with The Toy Trains full-time, and hopes to be creating a record of original material soon.
“Although I’ve played in many bands over the past 20-plus years, I’ve never felt such a feeling of satisfaction. I love what we do, and I’m very proud of The Toy Trains. The musicians are all so talented, and I’m thankful for their positive energy,” Schreck said.