Penelope Road, a new development in the Iowa City band scene, made its debut at Gabe’s on March 3. The line stretched the length of the building with people buzzing to get inside and enjoy the show.
The show started at 8 p.m., opening with the band, Harvey Street. Harvey Street’s music was comparable to flipturn’s. Their sound was upbeat and danceable, and regardless of my lack of knowledge about their music, the band had me and everyone else in the room singing and dancing through their entire set.
Penelope Road took the stage at 9 p.m. on the dot. The bar was packed with people, running from the stage to the bar at the back, it was shoulder to shoulder, but well worth the squeeze. According to one band member, bassist James Kopp, the band is named after the street he and lead vocalist, Max Moore, lived on during their childhood.
Penelope Street, in Atlanta, Georgia, is where the two met and grew up together, from adolescence to high school graduation. They put the band together during their sophomore year of high school.
The two accumulated the rest of the band through the years, and now play venues all over the country, from California to the Carolinas. Kopp described their music as a mix of the entire band’s tastes.
“It’s a blend of old soul, funk, emo, Midwest indie, and so much more,” he said.
I compared their music to “The Backseat Lovers,” and Kopp’s eyes lit up.
“That’s exactly what we’re going for,” he said.
They started their set with “Feel it coming my way,” an immediate crowd favorite. Every band member was emanating passion for playing their music for people; the guitarist beaming when he got a solo, the pianist showing off his velvety pipes into the mic, and the drummer singing along to every song.
My favorite songs were “Flowers” and a new, unreleased song, “California.” The band had insanely magnetic energy. They made the crowd go crazy with their covers of “Sheep,” by Mt. Joy, and “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” by Tears for Fears.
They ended their set with a new favorite of mine, “Out Tonight.” The whole crowd sang along as the band danced and jumped around the stage to close their set on an ecstatic note. I had more fun at this show than I have had at some of my favorite artists’ concerts. Penelope Road emphasized just how important it is for the artist on stage to emit good energy to their crowd.
Penelope Road is on tour, their next stop being Madison, Wisconsin. Their tour will end in Louisville, Kentucky, in September. I left their show with a new favorite band, tired feet, and a lost voice.