May 18th, 1993: After spending months writing and recording dozens of songs, Carnivorous Grass made their official debut when Paul Solecki and Jim Kelly perform two original songs at Frontier Trail Junior High School in Olathe, Kansas, USA. The band, featuring Jim on guitar and Paul on mandolin and guitar, with both singing beautiful harmonies, soon embarked on their world tour of Olathe, playing gigs in countless friends' houses over the next few years, with the occasional actual gig in public. Patrick "Orlick" Danko temporarily joined on bass, and they enjoyed playing gigs with their musical friends Kid Niko and The Francos.
In 1995 Carnivorous Grass went electric when Jim switched to bass and the band recruited Dave "Davey P" Perdaris to play drums. Carnivorous Brass, a horn section featuring Ryan Ramon Griffin and Jeff "Orlick II" Mitchell, rounded out the new sound and even added some choreography to the mix. In 1996 the band released their one official recording, Live at Gee Coffee. Work began on an official studio album but you know how these things go... In January 1997, Ben Champion took over drumming duties and the band played one last gig before going on a strange hiatus. When Jim stopped showing up to practice at his own house, Paul and Ben dissolved the band and formed The Vetivers on May 18th, 1997, four years to the day that the band was formed, recruiting former Carnivorous Grass bass player Patrick Danko to play bass. Paul and Jim played a couple unofficial reunion gigs throughout the years, and are still good friends.
On May 18th, 2008, Paul and Jim will play their 15th Anniversary Gig in Paul's adopted home of Cork, Ireland!
