Concert Review: Carbon Leaf graces Mainstreet with usual energy, quality

Kristen Green / senior photographer Carbon Leaf members, left to right, Barry Privett, Jordan Medas, and Carter Gravatt perform Tuesday at Mainstreet Bar and Grill.

Playing a variety-rich, foot-tapping set, Carbon Leaf made a triumphant return to the Mainstreet Bar and Grill for the first time in over a year to play for fans Tuesday night.

Local duo Katie and Jessica opened for the band.

While the stage at Mainstreet Bar and Grill was small and may have been seen as restrictive by other bands, Carbon Leaf took no heed as it jumped around the stage.

The band proved its versatility by presenting its original works and also cover songs. Carbon Leaf showcased its classical musicianship training through its bassist, alumnus Jordan Medas ('98). Medas studied music at JMU and was a member of several musical ensembles, including the Marching Royal Dukes.

The band also played a variety of songs and instruments, including tin whistles, mandolins, electric guitars and a slew of percussion instruments.

As the band took the stage at about 10:30 p.m., screams erupted from the roughly 259-member audience in anticipation, according to a Mainstreet Bar and Grill bouncer.

After opening with a cover of Wilco's "California Stars," the group played pieces from its own albums, both upcoming and already released, such as "A Life Less Ordinary," "Raise the Roof" and "Seven Brides For Seven Sinners."

If Carbon Leaf is famous for anything, it's for notoriously sounding even better in concert than on a compact disc. Part of the band members' appeal draws from their eclectic, fun-natured attitudes onstage, in which they prove they came to give a show for both the audience and themselves.

An audience member cannot help but smile and clap along to lead singer Barry Privett's mischeivous glances out of the corner of his eye or the jamming of guitarists Terry Clark and Carter Gravatt while backed up by drummer Scott Milstead.

The band continued to play its set late into the night, including "Any Given Day," its breakthrough single "The Boxer," "Torn to Tattered," "Mary Mac," "Blue Ridge Laughing" and "Home."

While the performance had many highlights, one was the band's encore, which consisted of its song "I Know The Reason" and "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp," a Led Zeppelin song cover.

"They really have a unique sound — and they're awesome instrumentalists," sophomore Caitlyn Powitz said.

While the band's music is what keeps fans returning to Mainstreet Bar and Grill to hear it play, the audience is what keeps the band coming back to Harrisonburg.

"We'd love to come once a semester, but our schedule got so hectic," Privett said.

Clark, however, appreciated Harrisonburg's reverent audiences. "I always have a great time here because it is one of the better crowds that we have," Clark said. "Everybody knows our songs and sings along and seems to care — it's great to see an audience that cares. A lot of places you go, you get treated like background music. This is awesome."

Carbon Leaf's next album comes out in May and, until then, the band members encourage fans to download and burn Carbon Leaf music to share with friends and family.

For more information on Carbon Leaf's members, tours and music, visit its Web site at www.carbonleaf.com.