Penelope Road
With their new single, “Flowers (Carry Me Home),” Atlanta’s fast-rising quintet Penelope Road continue their genre-melding ascent—delivering a soul-soaked, harmony-rich track that further solidifies their place in the conversation about the future of modern pop-rock. Released today via Warner Records, the song is an effortlessly smooth blend of ’70s soul, funk, and ‘80s groove, all wrapped in the band’s signature vocal interplay and throwback instrumentation.
Backed by a sunny beat, a melodic piano riff, and an understated bassline that practically swaggers, “Flowers (Carry Me Home)” feels both retro and fresh. Anchored by the bittersweet lyric “You carry me home just to leave me alone,” it channels the ache of unrequited comfort with a warmth that defies its melancholy. There’s a live performance video shot at Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta—where the band’s roots run deep—that captures their chemistry in real-time, and it’s as inviting as the track itself.
If “Out Tonight,” their Warner debut, was the moment the wider world started paying attention, “Flowers” is the track that will keep them hooked. The band’s momentum has been palpable. Rolling Stone previously dubbed “Out Tonight” one of the “Songs You Need to Know,” while HITS Daily Double celebrated their “old-school melodic joy,” and Creative Loafing noted their uncanny ability to marry “the soul and harmony of vintage acts like Hall & Oates or The Doobie Brothers” with the modern instincts of Mk.gee.
Formed almost by accident—when all five members happened to live on the same street in Atlanta (yes, Penelope Road)—the group is made up of Max Moore (lead vocals/guitar), Charles Eastman (lead vocals/keys), Koan Roy-Meighoo (vocals/guitar), James Kopp (bass), and Anthony Smith (drums). Their chemistry is hard-earned, their sound completely natural, and their influences refreshingly unselfconscious. Think Eagles vocal harmony with the groove of Vulfpeck and the songwriting chops of Ben Folds.
What sets Penelope Road apart is the balancing act they pull off: deeply musical, yet unpretentious; slick, yet human. Their arrangements shimmer with polish, but their lyrics land with emotional honesty. Their debut self-titled EP hinted at the depth of their potential—now, with “Flowers,” they’re proving they can reach it.
And it’s not just on record. Their live presence has become part of their lore. Kicking off their first national headline tour this month, they’re selling out beloved venues like The Troubadour in Los Angeles and Bowery Ballroom in New York. This summer sees them playing everywhere from Antone’s in Austin to Zanzabar in Louisville, before joining Lake Street Dive and Goose for a series of amphitheater shows in September.
Penelope Road are on the brink. Not because they’re trying to be the next big thing, but because they’re doing something that feels increasingly rare: making real music, built from real connection, with real soul. “Flowers (Carry Me Home)” isn’t just another single—it’s another step toward becoming one of the most vital new acts in America.
And if the flower imagery holds, it’s clear: they’re just beginning to bloom.
Watch the live performance video of Flowers (Carry Me Home) here
Catch Penelope Road on tour now — full list of dates and tickets here
