CountryMonkee.org is run by John Kelly, Janessa Speller and TJ Zitkevitz. If you think there is something that could help make the website better, please e-mail us at countrymonkee@gmail.com.

CountryMonkee.org was first thought up back in May of 2001 on a trip to Kings Dominion for Carbon Leaf fan day at KD. At the time, only 3 people attended (Jon Axisa, Janessa, and TJ). We wanted a website similar to nancies.org (a Dave Matthews Band website) but not as complex. The goal of the website was to create a web page that would A) Facilitate the interaction of Carbon Leaf fans and create a sense of a community, B) Provide a place where people can collect and trade live Carbon Leaf shows, and C) Not duplicate any information already on the Carbon Leaf homepage because the last thing we wanted was to take away from this great band after they have given us so much.

The original goal was to have CountryMonkee.org operational by July 28, 2001 (Luau II). However, that proved much harder than previously thought because both Jon and I were starting new jobs and Janessa was changing jobs. So we missed that date. The idea lingered for many months but no action was taken. Finally, 5 months later, the website came to life with some hard work by Janessa over the holidays and provided a great template for the site. It was also the perfect time with Carbon Leaf about to compete for a chance to play on the American Music Awards. Of course a week later, they did it and Carbon Leaf's popularity increased like never before. Now we have this huge audience from all over the country and the time was just right to release a fan based website devoted to one of the greatest bands in the country today.

There are many thanks that without the help of the following individuals, CountryMonkee.org would not be possible. First to Jon Axisa for helping to create the CountryMonkee.org idea. To Katherine Robison, thank you for organizing the setlists for us in what will become the first Carbon Leaf live show archive. Thank you to Charles Robison for creating a timeline with the history of Carbon Leaf to provide details of the past for all of the newer fans including myself. Thank you to Scott Keilman for creating the flash for us and to both Scott and Chris Buford for taping the band in the years before I ever knew they existed. Thanks to Andy Pigsley and Charles Lawson for providing and continuing to provide us with so many great pictures of the band for CountryMonkee.org. Thanks to Waldo and the nancies.org staff for advise and being the best fan website devoted to a band. Thanks to Avi Sareen for continuing to convert all of the Carbon Leaf live shows you hear today. Thank you to Stacey Cofield, for not only selling merchandise, but for running the Carbon Leaf discussion list and continuing to run contests for the band.

Finally, thank you Barry, Carter, Jordan, Scott, and Terry for providing some of the most original music that we have all learned to love and dance to, for without you guys, there would be no CountryMonkee.org and none of us would be reading this page. Thanks guys and good luck in the future where ever that may lead you.

And remember..."May the wind always be at your back, just never coming out of you personally" - Barry Privett (3/17/01, St. Patrick's Day show at Whitlow's)

John Kelly...My first show was technically on 12/22/01, but it doesn't really count and is a very long story, you'll have to see me in person at a show for an explanation. After seeing the guys on the AMAs I knew I had to get out to a show, but wasn't able to until 4/20/02 at Starr Hill in CVille. This was also the day I met both Janessa and TJ. TJ had set up a Country Monkee meeting at Wild Wings before the show, but he was over an hour late. While I walked with my friend over to the venue, Janessa overheard me mumbling an expletive that included TJ's name. She stopped us, introduced herself, and thus began my CM.org journey. ;o) Inside the show the band trully impressed me. I had never seen a show like it before. I was hooked... Many people now know me as the guy who tapes all the shows. I couldn't have started this without the help of TJ. After Luau III I was going to a show no other tapers were attending, and I decided I couldn't let that happen. TJ helped me understand exactly what I would need to tape the show adequately. Thousands of dollars later I'm still taping. In any case, I guess my biggest thanks go to Adam Outlaw, who turned me on to Carbon Leaf in the first place (I should've listened to you earlier). Also many thanks to TJ and Janessa, Avi Sareen, and Chris Buford.

TJ Zitkevitz...My first show was back on February 12, 2000 while going to school at the University of Virginia. Funny thing is, it is rumored that this was the first time the Boxer was played...coincidence??? Anyway, I was visiting a friend in Richmond and she suggested I see this great local Richmond band play. So I see the show, impressed a little, and it wasn't until my third show, May 2, 2000 at the Lodge Fraternity in Charlottesville, where I actually became addicted to the band. Maybe it was all that free liquor and beer in me but something about that day made me like them even more than ever before. I started getting into taping mainly with all my Dave Matthews Band tapers but noticed there were a few Carbon Leaf tapers too so I jumped on board and my first taped show was Luau I (August 12, 2000). Anyway, just like to give personal thanks to Scott Keilman for trading me my first Carbon Leaf show. To Jacqui and Jennifer, thanks for taking me to my first show.

Janessa Speller...My first contact with the music of Carbon Leaf happened on New Year's Eve of 2001. Not expecting to arrive until Agents of Good Roots were on-stage, I unwillingly found my plans changed and my friends and I arrived at the venue early (for once). Once inside, I came face to face with the music of the nameless opening band. Impressed, I was determined to found out who these guys were and where they were from - little did I know. After catching a quick rundown from Jordan, he gave me a copy of Ether which only made me want to see them live again. A few weekends later I attended the NYC and Snowshoe's "Glass and Powder" shows (after one of the most interesting road trips I have ever taken!!). Over the next few months, I was fortunate to meet some of Carbon Leaf's "veteran" fans as I was learning my way around the music. As a way to keep track of the shows I attended, I started writing what came to be known as the "Country Monkee Reports." Each report contained the show's setlist, a review and a few random side comments. I began posting them on cleaf-discuss as a way to share the shows with friends and fans that couldn't attend. I want to publicly thank TJ, Laura Mason, Angie Almond, Andy & Kippi Pigsley, Kat and Charles Robison, Jamie, Stacey and "myScott" for sharing their knowledge, friendship and couches with me.