Carbon Leaf is an American five-piece band from Richmond, Virginia, known for their alt-country, Celtic, and folk-infused indie rock. Though some of the band members have changed through the years, Carbon Leaf has been consistently creating and performing music since the early 1990s. The band currently consists of foun… Carbon Leaf is an American five-piece band from Richmond, Virginia, known for their alt-country, Celtic, and folk-infused indie rock. Though some of the band members have changed through the years, Carbon Leaf has been consistently creating and performing music since the early 1990s. The band currently consists of founding members Barry Privett, Carter Gravatt, and Terry Clark, as well as Jon Markel and Jesse Humphrey. Carbon Leaf is best known for the song "Life Less Ordinary", which debuted in 2004 and reached #5 on Billboard's Adult Alternative charts.
Band members
* Terry Clark: Electric guitar, Steel-string guitar, vocals
* Carter Gravatt: Acoustic, electric mandolin, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12 string guitar, lap steel, bouzouki, loops, effects, vocals
* Jon Markel: Electric bass, Upright bass
* Jason Neal: Drums, percussion
* Barry Privett: Vocals, penny whistle, acoustic guitar
Former band members
* Scott Milstead: Drums, percussion, vocals
* Jordan Medas: Electric bass, bowed and double bass, vocals
History
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, the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Sinéad O'Connor, and Sam Bush.
July 2004 marked the release of their newest album and first 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" has risen to number 5 on the AAA (Adult Album Alternative) charts and 29 on the Hot AC Charts. "What About Everything" is currently 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 and David Gray. As of October 2005, they're touring and opening for Jason Mraz.They have toured with bands like Great Big Sea, Jump, Little Children, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters.
Discography
* Meander (Constant Ivy) 1995
* Shadows in the Banquet Hall (Constant Ivy) 1997
* Ether~Electrified Porch Music (Constant Ivy) 1999
* Echo Echo (Constant Ivy) 2001
* 5 Alive (Constant Ivy) 2003
* Indian Summer (Vanguard Records) July 2004
* Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat (Vanguard Records) September 2006
Awards
* 2000 - First Place, Unsigned Music Video, Internet Underground Music Archive, IUMA (for "Flood")
* 2002 - First ever American Music Awards Presents the Coca-Cola New Music Award for 2001
* 2002 - First Place, Rock Category, International Songwriting Competition
* 2003 - Pontiac Vibe Summer Soundoff Campaign Winner
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 5 bassists prior to Jon Markel's joining in 2008:
* Palmer Stearns
* Devin McGuire
* Brian Durrett
* Chris Barrett
* Jordan Medas Read moreShow less
