"I think we're too heavy for the hardcore hippies and too hippie for the alternative rock crowd," says Doyle Privett of Carbon Leaf's odd appeal. How can a band that mixes acoustic instruments with Celtic influences possibly say that they're "too heavy" for anyone? Well, however you want to label it, Carbon Leaf has left its mark on rock roots in the mid-Atlantic and is well on their way to doing the same on a national level.Chances are good that you've already heard the story - unknown band from Richmond spends eight years working for peanuts, wayward mp3 gets them into a competition, American Music Awards, boy gets girl and they all live happily ever after in a castle in the clouds. In other words, a prime example of the rock-and-roll rags-to-riches story.For those of you who have been living in a cave or have been studying too hard, here's a brief recap. A haphazard, halfhearted attempt to fill out an online web form left the five Richmond natives with only a partial entry in a contest for unsigned bands, an unfortunate setback to which they gave no further thought. Nevertheless, their slacker ambitions came back to haunt them a month later when word came that they had cracked the top 50.
Stage after stage of competition gave way as they worked their way through a cross-country college tour. The epic journey was capped off by a live performance at the American Music Awards, a groundbreaking achievement augmented by Dick Clark's eventual acknowledgement of the quintet as "the best unsigned band in America."
The spirited AMA performance of a reworked version of "The Boxer," the lead track from their most recent album, struck a nerve with an audience of 100 million viewers from across the globe with its combination of insistent guitars and a set of whistle trills straight out of "Titanic." The band was rushed back to Richmond the next day and dumped back into their old routine, but a great many more eyes have been focusing on them ever since.The gradual evolution of the band's present musical identity goes a long way as far as explaining their diverse appeal. Beginning as a rock band and gradually branching out into folk and world music has given them a character that is as confusing as it is entertaining. Sometimes it's not clear whether you're listening to a subdued ballad or a traditional drinking song.
Although popular and traditional forms of music have been combined before by the likes of everyone from Santana to Flogging Molly, it's clear that Carbon Leaf is not copying anybody. Shows are generally populated by everyone from adults and seasoned listeners to college students and kids as young as the club's policies allow. Crowds resemble the set list: both are part hippie, part folky and presumably part Irish.That doesn't stop many critics from drawing comparisons between Carbon Leaf and the ubiquitous Dave Matthews Band. Both groups are five- member bands from Virginia that often use acoustic instruments, but that's about where the similarities end. Carbon Leaf tends to be much more straightforward, with fewer odd time signatures and fusion influences than their "Two-Step"ping counterparts.
Ever since the AMA whirlwind, "The Boxer" has been getting a respectable amount of attention from mainstream radio. "Wanderin' Around" may be the favorite for the next single, but "Mary Mac" brings the ruckus like nothing else on the album.One surprising plot twist here is the lack of the dreaded band sellout. Despite a flood of e-mails from record companies and a Web site struggling to keep up with the swarms of visitors, Carbon Leaf has decided to continue with the independent route for the time being. Seeing as how they're now a hot ticket in the world of new music, they can still afford to bring their party to smaller venues while searching for an appealing record contract.
Lead singer and manager-by-default Privett eagerly awaits the day when he will be able to relieve himself of the latter role, turning those duties over to a professional crew who will hopefully help the band shoot up into the elusive Big Time. Until the stadium tour commences, however, upcoming Charlottesville shows should provide area fans with plenty of listening opportunities.
Carbon Leaf plays an $8 show at Starr Hill this Saturday at 10 p.m., and will hit The Lodge on April 30th.
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