Carbon Leaf at Sony Hall

In 1992, several students started Carbon Leaf in a college auditorium in Ashland, Virginia, 16 miles north of Richmond. The band played backyard parties, mixers, and fraternity and sorority parties. After graduation, the band relocated to Richmond and spread to the regional college circuit before moving into the club circuit. In 2002, the musicians left their day jobs in order to dedicate more time to recording and touring. Carbon Leaf's profile increased thanks to airplay on adult contemporary radio stations, television scores, and commercials, and also with vocalist Barry Privett's roles in four feature films. The band currently consists of founding members Barry Privett (vocals, guitar, penny whistle), Carter Gravatt (mandolin, guitar, violin), and Terry Clark (guitar), along with newer members Jon Markel (bass) and Jesse Humphrey (drums). In 2018, Carbon Leaf's 25th anniversary year, the band launched a four-part series of new recordings called Gathering, starting on June 1 with The Gathering: Volume 1, the band's first new songs since 2013.

At Sony Hall tonight, Carbon Leaf performed a homogenous blend of alt-country, Celtic, and folk-and-pop-infused indie rock. While many of the instruments on stage, including the banjos, mandolin, pedal steel, and fiddle, would be affiliated closely with country music, Carbon Leaf was not essentially a country music or Americana band. Privett sang clean, bouncy pop tunes that were enhanced by the sweet sounds of traditional string instruments. Towards the middle of the set, the musicians gathered around an old-time microphone to showcase their vocal harmonies. Towards the end of the set, Privett played various pennywhistles for a few songs anchored with an Irish folk sound. Carbon Leaf leaned on several genres while centering on natural instruments and traditional rhythms. This was perhaps the band's charm; the songs were well-developed as mature works for older audiences instead of for the more lucrative younger audience. Played tightly and smoothly by a band of seasoned musicians, the lively set roused the audience to sway and sing along to a wholesome feel-good concert.