Carbon Leaf

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Carbon Leaf

Background information
Origin Richmond, Virginia
Genre(s) Pop Rock/Folk-rock
Years active 1992 - Present
Label(s) Vanguard Records
Website www.carbonleaf.com
Members
Barry Privett
Terry Clark
Carter Gravatt
Jordan Medas
Jason Neal
Former members
Scott Milstead

Carbon Leaf is a five-piece pop rock band from Richmond, Virginia.

Contents

[edit] Band members

[edit] Former band members

  • Scott Milstead: Drums, percussion, vocals

[edit] History

Barry Privett
Barry Privett

Carbon Leaf got their start at Randolph-Macon College in Virginia in 1992 practicing in an auditorium on campus. Their next step was playing backyard parties, mixers, fraternity, and sorority parties. Shortly after everyone graduated they moved to Richmond, Virginia. From Richmond, they played the college circuit in Virginia and up the East Coast before moving on to clubs.

Meander, their first album, was released in 1995. The first songs Carbon Leaf wrote, including "One Day" and "Country Monkee" are on the album.

Shadows in the Banquet Hall, released in 1997, includes some beloved fan favorites: "Flood," "Wolftrap and Fireflies," and "Attica's Flower Box Window." An award winning video was made for "Flood."

Ether~Electrified Porch Music (1999) is the first album with Jordan Medas as the bassist. Ether features several concert regulars including "Home" and "American Tale."

Echo Echo was released in 2001 with "The Boxer" as the first track. "The Boxer" went on to bring Carbon Leaf local, regional, and even some national recognition. In January 2002 Carbon Leaf won the first-ever American Music Awards Presents the Coca-Cola New Music Award for "The Boxer." As part of winning they performed "The Boxer" live on the AMAs to 80 million television viewers worldwide. Following this appearance, "The Boxer" entered regular rotation on radio stations including Washington, DC's DC101 (WWDC 101.1 FM).

In May 2002, the band members gave up their day jobs in order to dedicate more time to the band and touring.

5 Alive!, Carbon Leaf's first live album, was released during the summer of 2003. The album was taped over several concerts the preceding winter with the track list assembled to match a concert playlist.

In September, 2003, Carbon Leaf won the Pontiac Vibe Summer Sound off resulting in "The Boxer" being played in Pontiac Vibe commercials on MTV and VH1.

In Spring 2004, Carbon Leaf signed with Vanguard Records, part of the Welk Music Group, home to Nickel Creek, Mindy Smith, John Hiatt, Allison Moorer, Sinéad O'Connor, and Sam Bush.

July 2004 marked the release of their first album on a label, Indian Summer. The first two tracks, "Life Less Ordinary" and "What About Everything?", have received airplay across the country. "Life Less Ordinary" rose to number 5 on the AAA (Adult Album Alternative) charts and 29 on the Hot AC Charts. "What About Everything?" rose to 25 on the AAA charts. Indian Summer has been ranked in the top 10 by KMTT in Seattle, and number 40 out of the Top 50 Albums of 2004 by WXPN in Philadelphia. The album was produced by John Morand and David Lowery. Morand had previously produced albums by Guster and Sparklehorse, while David Lowery is the frontman and guitarist of both Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven.

The video for "Life Less Ordinary" debuted on January 5, 2005 and is available at Vanguard Records or Carbon Leaf Videos on VH1.com.

Carbon Leaf has opened for acts like Dave Matthews Band, Something Corporate, O.A.R., and David Gray, and has toured with Jason Mraz, Blues Traveler, Great Big Sea, Jump, Little Children, Matt Nathanson, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, and The Avett Brothers.

On September 12, 2006, the band released Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat. According to their blog, it was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, and mixed in collaboration with producer Peter Collins and mixing legend Trina Shoemaker. (2006. "Monterey International Booking". Retrieved June 3, 2006) The title track was featured in the October 30, 2006 episode of ABC's What About Brian.

In 2002, Carbon Leaf contributed the hidden bonus track "Dear" from their Echo Echo CD to the soundtrack of the Kevin Hershberger Civil War drama "Wicked Spring". The haunting, flute-driven dirge plays for its full 7:37 minutes over the entire length of the closing credits.

Their style is not "Brazilian Polka Metal", despite the joking claims of guitarist Carter Gravatt (B., David. 2002. A Carbon Leaf Interview. Blue Tint Magazine).

In June 2006, an interview with Carbon Leaf guitarist Terry Clark was chosen as the cover feature for the inaugural issue of The Green Room magazine, which also reviewed Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat in its September issue, awarding it a 9/10.

As of Fall 2006, Tom McCormack has been touring with Carbon Leaf, playing keys and accordion.

In memory of the lives lost in the Virginia Tech shootings, Carbon Leaf played at Sudflood 2007. All proceeds went towards the memorial fund for the victims and their families. A video of this performance can be seen here.

[edit] Discography

Cover Date of Release Title Type Label
January 1, 1995 Meander Full-Length Constant Ivy Music
October 1, 1997 Shadows in the Banquet Hall Full-Length Constant Ivy Music
November 1, 1999 Ether~Electrified Porch Music Full-Length Constant Ivy Music
March 31, 2001 Echo Echo Full-Length Constant Ivy Music
August 12, 2003 5 Alive! Live album Constant Ivy Music
July 13, 2004 Indian Summer Full-Length Vanguard Records
September 12, 2006 Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat Full-Length Vanguard Records

[edit] Singles

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  • I Know The Reason (2001)
  • The Boxer (2001)
  • Life Less Ordinary (2004)
  • What About Everything (2005)
  • Let Your Troubles Roll By (2005)
  • Learn To Fly (2006)
  • Comfort (2007)

[edit] Awards

[edit] Trivia

The origins of the name Carbon Leaf are murky, but the most repeated story is that Barry and Terry went on a rafting trip in college and while tossing around possible names came up with Carbon Leaf. However, before the rest of the band got a chance to vote on it, the host for their next show put Carbon Leaf on the flyers. And the rest is history.

Carbon Leaf were the first unsigned artists ever to perform on the American Music Awards.

Carbon Leaf wrote then recorded with Regan Richmond, Virginia's theme song, "Easy to Love".

"Dear," the hidden track on Echo Echo, was written to play during the closing credits of the Civil War film Wicked Spring .

Carbon Leaf has had 4 bassists prior to Jordan Medas' joining in 1999:

  • Palmer Stearns
  • Devin McGuire
  • Brian Durrett
  • Chris Barrett

"Learn to Fly" from Love Loss Hope Repeat was featured on the 2006 Bionicle: Free the Band website, along with songs from Big City Rock, Over It, The Living End, and a few more.

Carbon Leaf has announced that they have begun the writing and recording process and that they will keep recording music for their new album throughout the summer of 2007.

At some live events, the band plays two new songs: "Native America" and "Unknown Bride."

[edit] References

  1. ^ ["http://www.carbonleaf.com" "Official Website of Carbon Leaf"]. Retrieved on 2007-09-14.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] External links