Carbon Leaf Performs with Surprise Guest the Alternate Routes

Carbon Leaf finished its tour with Susanna Choffel on Monday night at the Fairfield Theater Company, and it was one of its best performances.

I can say this because I’ve seen them a lot. (Borderline ridiculous). And while Carbon Leaf makes sure that each live show is different from their last, Monday night was its best version of every song they have, in a way I’ve never heard the band.

Susanna Choffel, a singer/songwriter from Austin, opened for the band, and managed to hold her own. She had an amazing voice and a great guitar, but her songs all felt the same. It felt a little too mellow, and there was nothing in her songs that allowed me to distinguish one from the other. But her voice was distinctive and the talent was obviously there.

Carbon Leaf managed to bring back the energy, opening with “Under the Wire” before taking advantage of the intimate setting at Fairfield Theater Company. The band played a few acoustic versions of their songs, which is a testament to how aware they are of their audience and who they’re playing for. They even performed an African spiritual, with no instruments, just the five band members singing in amazing harmony. It was completely unique and well-received.

The rest of the show continued in the same fashion, with Carbon Leaf throwing surprises in everywhere they could. Not only did it change the harmonies and instrumental parts in almost every song, but it even led into one of its songs with an acoustic intro of “Over the Rainbow.”

Finally, as if it couldn’t get any better, Carbon Leaf returned for an encore — but with the Alternate Routes. Two of the band members, lead singer Tim Warren and guitarist Eric Warren, were in the area/in the audience and joined Carbon Leaf for the final number, along with Susanna Choffel. It was a complete rock-band moment, with everyone jamming on stage at the same time, having a blast.

It was entertaining, it was different, it was unexpected. Especially in a setting so small, Carbon Leaf took every advantage it could and made it a worthwhile show for everyone there.