An Important Announcement From Carbon Leaf

Hey Everyone,
It is with a sad and heavy heart that we are announcing the band's extremely difficult decision to part ways with our longtime percussionist, and founding member of Carbon Leaf, Scott Milstead.

It has been a long, rewarding road full of memorable shows and great times making music together, but the time has come for some changes that we're confident will lead to greater happiness and fulfillment for all 5 of us going forward.

Scott is our brother and we love him dearly. He is forever a spiritual member of Carbon Leaf who has devoted his life and passion for music to the cause, and we are thankful for an unforgettable era.

We know this is a shock to the people that make Carbon Leaf possible - the fans - and we ask for your continued support and enthusiasm for the band as we look forward to envisioning Carbon Leaf for the road ahead.

Sincerely,
Barry, Terry, Carter and Jordan

Comments

[Cindy]

Best wishes to Scott, who was an amazing part of Carbon Leaf. But also best wished to Carbon Leaf now that there is a change, hopefully it is for the better!

COME BACK TO BLACKSBURG!!!!

[Angel]

Best wishes to Scott.
Wish we knew more...the language to this was, well, interesting.

[John Milstead]

What you guys did sucks. Yes I am a family member of Scott's so you will dismiss my comments. But 15 years with the band.

I do not think that Scott is thinking of you guys as brothers right now.

John Milstead

[Linda]

I'm going to miss Scott.

[a fan]

I am old enough to be your pappy but I really enjoy your music. My daughter and my musician son turned me on to you some time ago.
There are times when changes are made, and there's no way for everyone to part without some hurt.
Hopefully everyone will eventually be better for it. I know the fellow who left was highly talented and will find a new project soon.

[VaBch CF Fan]

Friends shared with me some pretty sagely advice after I lost one parent to a car wreck 11 days before I lost the other to cancer.

I'll share those same words below in hopes that they might provide comfort to those who are upset by John's departure...

I've learned that people come and go
I've learned that families break and grow.
Toy soldiers brave away those tears.
Toy soldiers hope for better years.
Today I strike out on my own.
The dog is dead, we kids have grown.

-Slainte'

[caring fan]

I agree that the wording of the announcement is a bit, um...off. I'm not sure of the situation in which he left or was asked to leave and it may never be known to his and CL's fans; however, Scott is a fabulous drummer/percussionist who poured his heart into the music and the band. He will be missed certainly by the fans and hopefully by the remainder of the band. I wish him the best of luck finding a new outlet for his great talent.

[Carlos A. Cook]

Scott is a great guy. Every time we met, he always looked me in the ye and listened to everything IO said and was totally encouraging when I had my poetry published. SO, in that regard I wish to thank him (and the other guys, as well) You definitely will be missed and I hope to see you out there in the future, Scott. Allbeit with a new band or whatever, you will always be welsomed here in Columbus, Ohio..

[Milstead Fan]

What in the world happened here? That comment from his relative sounds pretty harsh. Did he leave, or was he forced out? Perhaps this was a difference in opinion over the new songs. I see they have a new drummer. Wonder if we'll ever truly know the whole story, but I certainly want to know.

[Drew P (formerly H)]

OLD SCHOOLERS UNITE! This is the nail in the coffin...read ahead please...maybe band affiliates as well..

As I sit as a somewhat adult in Chicago...I remember becoming completely obsessed with Carbon as a geeky music student in a suburban Richmond high school. I saw this band for the first time at a freakin' gym at Randolph Macon..my father had to drive me to the show as I was 14! Before I graduated high school, I saw this band no less than 26 times...even twice in one day(at a Private Event I snuck into and then at U Richmond...bribed ID checker)

I remember now that I had even joined the school newspaper staff just so I could write a story about Carbon Leaf and of course, have an excuse to be obsessive and call Barry for an interview. I left a message on the band's house phone and to my surprise, I actually got a call back!!(I wonder if the honorable Mr. Privett remembers this) I was so inspired by the passionate shows these guys pulled off every damn time I saw them...rocking people's breaths away at Alley Katz...playing two shows a night just so underage "Leafheads" like myself could attend the show!

Too young to really follow other heroes of mine at the time, such as Phish (not to mention that damned hiatus), I felt musically touched by these guys...memorizing setlists...owning every variety of t-shirt that was possible to purchase. I remember acting out the words to "Toy Soldiers" at the Echo, Echo release party (at Alley Katz) with a dear friend whilst Terry looked down at us and laughed. I also remember feeling so alive and inspired to actually hear "Maybe Today" played live. My goal in life became to convert others to "Leafism." I left a show one night feeling absolute satisfaction when I witnessed a bassist friend of mine actually well up during Jordan's solo during "Follow the Lady!"

I was more than happy to attend VCU because that meant I could take college fairly seriously and still manage to see almost all Carbon Leaf shows. I went to the luaus, and my favorite of all shows...at the ballroom of the John Marshall to truly celebrate the AMA glory. The band put on a show that revived this dead landmark of Southern aristocracy and everyone there felt the great excitement of a show at its best and a band on the cusp of whatever fame and fortune surely was to fall into the hands of our Richmonder heroes...

I remember stumbling home to my apartment on Hanover Avenue in the Richmond fan on weekend mornings and having "Barry sightings" near Floyd Ave and wondering what glorious music was to arise from his brain. I also remember being cheered by the sight of the rather unsightly car that served as a decoration to the second Luau parked conspicuoisly around the Fan.

I brought all out of town college friends to Carbon Leaf shows because I was proud of this gem of a band that was from my own hometown. I was proud to be a Richmonder...a citizen of the town that produced Carbon Leaf.

This feeling of pride, the adrenaline of the shows powered by Scott's fierce push, the beauty of Carter's noodlings...which to this day inspire my guitar playing...are only experienced now as a sick feeling of nostalgia. Carbon Leaf have betrayed the artistry that once inspired an acne'd band geek to actually like rock music again.

They have fallen into the valley of a conglomerative musical vacuum...it's one thing to break from stylistic roots to progress....regression for the sake of selling records is unforgivable. And they've jetisoned Scott...I am sure because he might have hesitated to loose sight of the sound and the fire that used to make Richmonders proud.

In fact, they were asked to sing Richmond's plea to the public to keep it alive (anyone else remember "Easy to Love?") Their music has always seemed to reflect the cultral status of Richmond, Virginia.

Sadly, that connection is no less true today. It is a broken city in which all interest in its Southern quirk and haunting glow has been dimmed in favor of plastic selfishness...in the suburban West End. Richmond at one time had the potential to be lifted out of the racist and conservative past that threatened its artistic livelihood. The city has actually torn down the Sixth Street bridgeway...once a symbol of harmony between racially divded neighborhoods...to make way for chain restauraunts!
Yes, I once thought Carbon Leaf to be superheroes capable of not only putting on an epic and intense performance, but of also saving their hometown and their genre of music from loosing its diverse and intelligent aura.
There was hope in me that Carbon Leaf could make this town the new Charlottesville or Burlington (Vermont of course). In fact, they gave me hope that all towns across the nation suffering from potential cultural death might have bands that could save them. Nay, they have left Richmond for the suburbs. I say shame on you, Carbon Leaf...Barry I suggest that you sit once again in your "writing chair" and regain your "childhood stare." Save your music...save your band...save your soul and that of every other Richmonder who now feels completely left in the dark.

PS: If Scott reads this...best wished mate. It seems you've been screwed like all of us...the old guard of Carbon Leaf fandom.

[Carrie]

As much as it kills me, I have to agree with my dear friend Drew P. Carbon Leaf has changed, and not for the better. I bought "Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat" expecting the best and got the worst. I can't even listen to it without forgetting that my beloved Carbon Leaf made this album because it sounds nothing like them. I expect these changes will contiune now that Scott has left and it makes me even sadder.

Luckily, I have the memories of the Alley Katz shows, some of which I did back to back (underage and then of age); the Echo, Echo release party; and, of course, the Second Luau. And I have all the early albums to take me back to those memories when something happened that I never thought would happen to me: when a singular band inspired me and lifted me up to a place I didn't know existed. Music has never been my life, but Carbon Leaf made me see the joy and inspiration that can come from music when it's played well by musicians who love what they're doing. Now all I'm left wondering is what happened to that music and why is it only captured on CDs from my past?

[Emily (your favorite fan from Indy)]

Hey guys. I haven't read your blog in a while (probably because you haven't posted anything lately...ha). But I went back and read the past two posts to this blog entry, and it got me to thinking. I don't know how often you guys check this thing, especially since you're busy with your new CD, but here goes...

I love you guys to death...no, not the mushy-gushy kind of love, but you guys really are my #1 favorite musicians. As much as I enjoy all of your music (each CD for different reasons), I feel like you guys are on thin ice...and I'd hate to see you slip through the cracks. Don't get me wrong, "Love Loss Hope Repeat" was a great effort on your part. But...but but but...I do miss the days of yester. Echo Echo has always had a special place in my heart. I'm not saying you should go all-Celtic with your sound, but you have to admit, that CD is SO distinguishable over all of your other work. And maybe Echo Echo just isn't you anymore, which is fine. But I don't think your most recent CD is nearly as expressive. The more I listen to LLHR, the more I wonder what's underneath the facade. I feel like there's something "more" that you're not divulging. What's underneath that surface?

As with any band, it's always up to its members to find that happy balance between sticking to your guns and making your fans happy, so obviously, I leave that in your hands. But as an undeniably devoted fan, I felt like I needed to say something. This might not be the best medium to use in relaying this message, but it kind of ties in with what the last two people have said.

Do you know why you guys intrigue me? Because for once in my life, I found a band that has never seemed preoccupied with making millions (a band that truly loves their fans), and instead has always focused on the art of the music. And when my brother put Echo Echo in the CD player five years ago, and "The Boxer" blasted through the speaks in all its glory, and I had my first taste of Carbon Leaf deliciousness, I thought to myself "These guys are artists in the truest form".

Those are my two cents...or 10...or 50...maybe a buck and a quarter. I hope you keep this in mind. I'll get off my soapbox now, and continue eagerly awaiting your upcoming artistic masterpiece.

[A sad Carbon Leaf fan]

I moved to Richmond 5 years ago and my first night here in Richmond I heard Carbon Leaf at Friday Cheers. I was hooked. I knew that this town and this band was for me. I went out the next day to Plan 9 and bought Echo Echo and listened to it until it literally wore out, Indian Summer came out and I played it everyday for students in my Kindergarten class as rest time. I had the DJ at my wedding go buy the Echo Echo CD so that Mary Mac could be played at my wedding. My DH proposed to me while Life Less Ordinary was playing in the background. I was getting ready to drop $50 to see Carbon Leaf tomorrow night on NYE at Toad's Place. I have changed my mind. I don't like the wording of the announcement of Scott's leaving. It sounds very odd and fishy to me and it corresponds too closely with the release of the last CD, which sounds the least like the Carbon Leaf of the past. Hopefully, Barry, Carter and Terry will re-evaluate the music they are making and realize that maybe they are going in a direction that isn't really true to who Carbon leaf is, or at least who the true fans love and miss.

[A sad Carbon Leaf fan]

I moved to Richmond 5 years ago and my first night here in Richmond I heard Carbon Leaf at Friday Cheers. I was hooked. I knew that this town and this band was for me. I went out the next day to Plan 9 and bought Echo Echo and listened to it until it literally wore out, Indian Summer came out and I played it everyday for students in my Kindergarten class as rest time. I had the DJ at my wedding go buy the Echo Echo CD so that Mary Mac could be played at my wedding. My DH proposed to me while Life Less Ordinary was playing in the background. I was getting ready to drop $50 to see Carbon Leaf tomorrow night on NYE at Toad's Place. I have changed my mind. I don't like the wording of the announcement of Scott's leaving. It sounds very odd and fishy to me and it corresponds too closely with the release of the last CD, which sounds the least like the Carbon Leaf of the past. Hopefully, Barry, Carter and Terry will re-evaluate the music they are making and realize that maybe they are going in a direction that isn't really true to who Carbon leaf is, or at least who the true fans love and miss.