If you are into rootsy, Celtic-influenced folk rock, then Carbon Leaf is the band for you. And if you catch on now, you will be able to say, "I knew them when."

      Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat is the band’s latest release, and it’s expected to be the album that finally pushes them forward into the mainstream. For years, Carbon Leaf has been recognized by some of the biggest players in the industry. They have toured and supported major acts such as Dave Matthews Band, Counting Crows, David Gray, John Mayer and Jason Mraz. But don’t think that hanging out with all these big names has gone to their heads.

      "Give me a break," says lead singer Barry Privett. "We would need to get a lot bigger to feel that kind of buzz. For us, to get out and get people to show up is still kind of a mystery in most of the country. We’re really working hard to fill in the gaps, and certainly playing gigs like the 930 Club and Recher are nice. [A few] years ago we couldn’t get an opening gig, so we are certainly thankful and humbled by that. Once you get out on the road and figure out how big the world is and how much work you need to do, it really keeps you humble."

      Privett, the lead singer/songwriter of the band, has created a new batch of songs that he hopes will connect with his audiences and launch them to the next level.

      "I wanted songs that were emotionally available to the listener and to me," he explains, "without trying to mask what I’m saying with clever language. The feelings are anxious and regretful. They talk about living up to the mistakes you’ve made. They examine the humanity and weaknesses of everyday life."

      The performances on Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat gelled during a three-week rush of recording in Nashville, followed by 10 days of overdubbing in Richmond. Instead of working the material out on the road, they decided to start rolling tape with nothing but rough sketches as their guides.

      Producer Peter Collins, who has over 20 years worth of achievement on projects with Bon Jovi, Elton John, Rush, Jewel and dozens of other high-profile artists, oversaw the project. Privett insists it was an ideal meeting of minds. "We tend to write freely, without editing," he explains. "Peter helped us trim our stuff and at the same time open it up. As the songs came together, I realized we were writing about the unseen forces that drive our lives: the seasons of the year, the human cycle of love and loss, life and death, despair and hope. The phrase ‘love, loss, hope, repeat’ became the album title because it summed up the bittersweet tone of these songs."

      These Virginia-based self-starters have been together for over 10 years. They started as students at Randolph-Macon College when they decided to try their luck at forming a band in 1992. They practiced in an auditorium on campus and soon began playing backyard parties, mixers, fraternity and sorority parties. When they graduated, they moved to Richmond. From Richmond, they played the college circuit in Virginia and up the East Coast before moving on to clubs.

      The origins of the name Carbon Leaf are unclear. The most popular theory is that members Barry and Terry went on a rafting trip in college where they tossed around possible names. Carbon Leaf was in the running; 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. The rest is history.

      For more information on Carbon Leaf, check out www.carbonleaf.com.