Virginia-based folk band Palmyra stopped back in to Petra’s Bar in Charlotte on their Restless tour along with opener Joseph Terrell on April 25.
As the show started, Mānoa Bell exclaimed, “It feels good to be back.”
I agreed.
A sense of calm filled the bar as Palmyra started to play. The night was not only filled with new friends and groovy tunes, but also eccentricity and emotion through their songs. Each lived experience that was played and sang radiated throughout Petra’s. With this, it created a magical safe space for every person in the bar, myself included.
One song that particularly took me by surprise was “Shape I’m In.” Sasha Landon’s lyrics pulled at my heartstrings, to the point where I could not contain my emotions.
Throughout the night, I was most impressed by the band’s beautiful lyrics and how they implemented the first microphone they had used when starting out as a band. The members played around that singular microphone with Manoa on both bass and cello, Sasha on acoustic and electric guitar, and Teddy Chipouras guitar and banjo.
“We were trying to be folkier, from playing songs on the one microphone,” they joked, with the audience erupting into laughter.
The show ended with their song “Stones Throw,” a song about marching on despite the setbacks experienced in life, giving a strong conclusion to a wonderful night.
Prior to coming to the concert, I had been struggling to find my voice through art or anything that brought me joy. But meeting Palmyra and listening to their music helped me find my voice again. My experience at Petra’s Bar with Palmyra taking the stage was a reminder to myself and others to keep going. And because of them, I will.
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