The Last Train Home has become far more than a hometown favorite since Eric Brace founded the roots-rock band in 1997. Its lively infusion of country, bluegrass, swing, blues, folk, pop and Tin Pan Alley caught the fancy of the Washington Area Music Association which named it the 2002 Artist of the Year. In 2004, Brace and LTH moved to Nashville, but their hearts never left home. They return often to play for packed houses at local venues. On Tuesday, they arrive in style to infect everyone attending the Millennium Stage concert with their melodic merrymaking.
“We’ve been successful for more than a decade because the band continues to have fun on stage,” Brace said. “During the 10 to 15 years when I worked in Washington and saw hundreds of bands, it was very clear that the ones audiences enjoyed were those who were enjoying themselves. So many of them looked as if they’d rather be somewhere else that I made up my mind it wasn’t worth doing unless I could have fun.
| Onstage |
| Eric Brace and The Last Train Home |
| Where: Kennedy Center Millennium Stage |
| When: 6 p.m. Tuesday |
| Info: Free; kennedy-center.org |
“As a kid, I listened to the Beatles, Peter Paul & Mary, the Seldom Scene and the Skip Castro Band and thought they were the coolest things around. By 15 or 16 I was going out to hear every group in town and I played bass in a few bands. I assumed that there was always time to get a real job.”
“I never imagined life without playing music,” he said. “Once I started writing songs I became confident that we would succeed even though it took several years.”
“I love performing on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. The series is one of this country’s great live art programs. I’m proud to be a part of bringing the arts to everybody. We’ve been on the Christmas schedule about eight years now and we love seeing the crowds and meeting the fans.”
