train at riverbend

Sometimes you just need a break.

Since releasing their 2006 album, “For Me It’s You,” Train members Pat Monahan, Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood have taken time away from the band to record a solo album (Monahan), write a novel and begin a fashion line (Stafford).

But the band is back with a new album due to drop in September and a spot headlining the Coca-Cola Stage tonight at Riverbend.

“I think you reach a point in a career when you just need a break from one another, and that’s what I needed, musically and personally. I think we all needed that,” said lead singer Monahan, who released his first solo album, “Last of Seven,” in 2007.

“It’s done us a lot of good, to be honest,” Monahan said. “Scott and Jimmy and I are really, really happy to be together playing music again.”

During this time, guitarist Stafford penned a novel, “The Guitar on the Wall,” and launched a women’s clothing line, Hera. Monahan said the guys have come back feeling refreshed.

“We needed something to get us excited again, and time is really helpful. We’re really having a good time. For me, it’s become a quality-of-life issue. I just want to laugh; I want to enjoy this, and I want to make sure we’re all equally aware of how lucky we are to have music in our bodies. I think we’re all in that place right now. Instead of ‘who gets what,’ it’s like ‘how can I help?’ ”

For the upcoming album, tentatively titled “Save Me, San Francisco,” Train recorded for three weeks in London, under the supervision of producer Martin Terefe, who has worked with Jason Mraz, KT Turnstall and James Morrison, among others. The last 10 days of recording, including on the potential title track, took place in San Francisco.

“It’s time for us to get back to being a Bay Area band, so we wanted to record some in San Francisco,” Monahan said.

The new album takes the band back to its roots with an organic sound. Monahan said Train is best personified by a combination of quirky (“Meet Virginia”) and sentimental (“When I Look to the Sky”).

After Riverbend, Train chugs on to Milwaukee to perform at Summerfest and to Fair St. Louis in Missouri.

“There’s never an environment that I don’t dig playing music,” Monahan said. “Everyone’s been cooped up all winter, spring finally comes; hopefully people will love the new material we play.”