REVIEW: Penelope Road: Live at Terminal West & Variety Playhouse - ATL
- Magali Rivera
- Dec 28, 2025
- 3 min read
The rising ATL rockers close the year out with a victory lap at our city's legendary venues
Penelope Road has made quite the year of 2025. They completed a seemingly nonstop tour across the US, including opening up for some big names like Teddy Swims, Goose, and Lake Street Dive. They also notably signed to Warner Records, solidifying their continued growth, talent, and hard work. After their biggest year yet, the band made their grand return home last weekend playing a run of sold-out shows at Eddie’s Attic, Terminal West, and Variety Playhouse. The Atlanta-grown soulful pop-rock five piece may have initially gained recognition for their viral covers of classic songs, but they are now proving they deserve a place in the industry through their own songwriting and musical prowess.
The excitement for these hometown Atlanta shows was palpable. Crowds piled into the three iconic venues and received a specialized set each night. On December 19th, Terminal West saw Penelope Road play originals to fans who knew all the words along with some new tracks, eagerly awaiting release. The fine dealings of the band speak to how influenced they are by the classics in rock and roll, soul, and R&B. As music lovers, we ache for an act that is diverse, in both their knowing respect of old tunes and in creating a sound that is modern and fresh, and many continue to find that in Penelope Road.
The members of the band only being in their early 20s also adds to the magic of the art they create, leaving young and old fans alike in awe. They do this time and again by killing a cover like that of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears then launching into their own hooky and anthemic “Feel It Coming My Way”.
The very next night on December 20th, the band rocked out to a crowd almost double the size at Variety, with all the confidence and purpose as the previous day. Guitarist Max Moore and keyboardist Charles Eastman share lead singing duties while also soulfully riffing on their instruments. Bassist James Kopp and drummer Anthony Smith mightily keep the groove going in the rhythm section, and Koan Roy-Meighoo fills out each song with killer guitar solos.
It is clear every member is driven by their love for music, seen in the way they are moved by the beat and beam at each payoff. Their fans light up and sing with them and that is the true tell of the band’s passion and how people crave to connect with it. These young guys playing for an audience of 175 at Eddie’s Attic then one over 1000 two days later says a lot about their ability to draw back their set and their assured capability of leaving a crowd, regardless of size, blown away.
Atlanta is lucky to have such a fresh soulful act like Penelope Road coming up at the moment. It feels good to be reminded of the decade-spanning influence and genre-bending talent we have within our own city. If this year was any tell, Penelope Road have an even bigger year ahead of them in 2026, and it is obvious their fans ardently wait for what’s to come.
Article and photos by Magali Rivera. Please credit @magliriver or @art.seen.atl if reposting on social media.
