Every fall, leaf peepers herd to Hanover to see the picturesque red, green, orange and yellow trees. But even though a frigid winter has stripped the trees of the leaves and October couldn't be further away, tonight a different kind of leaf peeper will flock to Collis Commonground Saturday night -- not to see the fall foliage, but to see Carbon Leaf, an award-winning Celtic-influenced rock band.
The five-man band from Richmond, Va. made its name by winning the Coca-Cola New Music Award at the 2002 American Music Awards. They also won the very first International Songwriting Competition, in which songs by both amateur and professional bands were judged according to creativity, originality, lyrics, melody and composition.
Although they achieved success last year with their latest album, "Echo Echo," they have been around for much longer -- Carbon Leaf's first release, "Meander," dates back to 1996 and was written "while transitioning to the real world in low-rent, uneven-floorboard housing, lonely living rooms, rat-infested basements, laundromats and a new city."
Their three albums since have seen them experiment with bluegrass pop, jazz jams and acoustic and electric guitars. Their later two albums are mandolin-rock driven and combine this traditional and progressive blend of music with lyrics about "love, friendship, loneliness, independence and the delicate art of communication."
"The Boxer," the first single from Carbon Leaf's latest album, has the same refreshing, catchy sound that's found on much of the album, and as described by lead singer Barry Privett at a show, is about "what happens when boys and girls don't get along."
It's no wonder Carbon Leaf's songs show a wide variety of musical styles -- the band members cite influences from all across the musical spectrum, from alt-country to jazz to punk. The band has played shows with the Dave Matthews Band and Ziggy Marley among others. Earlier this year, they toured with North Carolina rock band Jump Little Children and Canadian acoustic-Celtic band Great Big Sea.
Doors are scheduled to open at 8 p.m.; the concert starts at 9. Admission is free to Dartmouth students with ID.
