The performance that Richmond-based Carbon Leaf put on at the Jefferson Theater last Friday night was by no means typical of a band consisting of 40-year-old guys. The band has evolved significantly since they formed in the early ‘90s at Randolph-Macon College, which became clear when they took the stage to Lorde’s hit single “Royals.”
But Carbon Leaf had more in common with the crowd than just their appreciation of alt-rock’s newest darling. They kicked off with “Indecision,” a spirited tribute to their Virginia roots, with lyrics like, “Just take me straight to Virginia / Back to the faces of home.” “It’s good to be home!” lead singer Barry Privett said after finishing “Indecision,” donning a beaming smile as he, along with the other band members, seemed truly joyous at being back in Virginia.
They kept the crowd on their feet with “Life Less Ordinary,” their breakthrough hit from 2004, opening up a thrilling setlist demonstrating their musical evolution since. Ranging from songs of tragic heartbreak to cheerful bar chants, Carbon Leaf kept the crowd guessing as they explored their discography.
They played one of their more upbeat songs next, entitled “She’s Gone (…For Good This Time)” which recalls a rowdy group of drunken Irishmen in a pub. “Well she’s gone. Gone for good this time,” Privet sings, followed by the crowd yelling “No” to which he responds, “Yes” and then the crowd asks, “Why?” The interactive tune kept the crowd involved in the show and exemplified the the group’s 2013 album “Ghost Dragon Attacks Castle.”
The band left its label in 2010 and formed its own recording studio, allowing them to produce music as frequently as they wished. This year alone, they have already put out two full-length studio albums and have plans for more. Aside from being far-from-mainstream in terms of radio friendliness, the band also departs from production-related norms, giving them the freedom of creative expression, and ultimately, as Privet put it, “cutting out the middle man.”
The band members became more and more energetic as the show progressed — possibly due to the fact that Privet was drinking, but also because the crowd’s energy vamped up as well. They broke from the loud, upbeat rock midway through the show, however, to play a few acoustic songs with only two men and a guitar. Singing a few endearing songs of love and loss, like “Comfort” and “Midwestern Girl,” the acoustic set lasted just long enough to warm the crowd’s hearts without putting them to sleep.
The show was reaching an end when it started to pick up again, and lead singer Privet was noticeably stumbling around the stage a bit. This, however, didn’t take away from the clarity and faultlessness with which he sang, and his drunken Irish saunter only further befitted the persona that he put on. He confessed to receiving all of his energy from The Flat Creperie on the Downtown Mall, evoking laughter from the crowd.
To finish the set, the band played “Let Your Troubles Roll By,” a song telling of struggles and the desire to push on. This notion is one that the epitomized the progression of the band, who, despite 20 years of touring, have yet to reach the pinnacle of fame that is highly coveted by many. Nonetheless, the band has learned throughout the years how to put on an impressive performance, making the fans they do have exceedingly loyal and excited to continue attending their shows and supporting their music.
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