Based in Swannanoa, NC at a rather small college, Carrot Eaters were originally a recording collaboration between Garrett Johnson (words of wisdom) and Nick Wilson (kazoo layering) formed in early 2005. Distance and summer heat left the project in limbo for awhile, to re-emerge in fall 2005 with "Embryo of a Tape Loop." The song is built around a manipulated and slowed down tape of the consumers of orange conical shapes and their friends Jade Stephens and Becky Zajicek playing toys in the aisles of Walmart in the middle of the night. Wanting to form a live act, they added violinist Shaina Kapeluck for shows throughout the fall and winter. Eventually the act turned more collective, adding Jade on guitar, Candace Anthony on clarinet, Zoe Ladner on mandolin, jaw harp and glockenspiel and Dave Tolar on concertina. In Spring, as the summer loomed overhead and some would eventually depart to separate hemispheres for a while, the band recorded a five song demo, while Nick and Garrett finally finished the original recordings. The songs dangle like Hanukkahs and flicker like Christmas tree ornaments, like those yearnings in the darkest depths of the soul. Will they ever return? Only time will tell but hopes are high.
Garrett has alter-egos as Green Uvula and Ketchup Fart , while Nick has alter-egos as Mongolia and Exploding Schoolgirls . Nick, Garrett and Jade are also members of the rather different band Warm Erasers .
