This week we received notice of two reviews. The first is in the Arizona Bluegrass Beacon, discussing the re-release of "Down To May Last Dollar", and another from The Long Journey, a roots and country blog based in Italy! Keep em coming!

Bonnie's 'PICKS' by Bonnie Williams

Hello Bluegrass Friends!

I have to admit that I was not familiar with The HillBenders until I listened to the new re-release of their debut album, Down To My Last Dollar. For the past few years, they have been making a name for themselves at Rockygrass, Telluride, and IBMA's Fan Fest appearances. Their formula? Read More

Today we're giving you an insider exclusive from the HillBender practice room!
We played this song on only a handful of stages last year, so we thought you might enjoy listening in on our practice tape, in case you missed it live. No mix, no mics, just a smartphone on a chair in the practice room with us standing around it. Gotta love you some Ray Charles! Hit the media bar below to listen in-

The folks over at Prescription Bluegrass have put out a fantastic review on the new record!!
LINK:http://www.prescriptionbluegrassblog.com/2013/01/prescription-bluegrass-cd-reviewthe.html

One of the definitions of “Symbiosis” is: “A close, prolonged association between two or more different species that is mutually beneficial to each member.” Yep….. that sounds like THE HILLBENDERS to me! “SYMBIOTIC!” Chad “Gravy Boat” Graves’ screamin’ dobro benefits from Mark Cassidy’s high wattage, parallel banjo licks, while Mark’s banjo benefits from Nolan Lawrence’s hot and tasty mandolin chops. Nolan’s mandolin benefits from Jim Rea’s enthusiastic guitar, just like Jim’s guitar benefits from his cousin, Gary Rea’s thunder storm driven upright bass, and Gary’s bass, in turn, churns right back around under the current of Chad’s dobro. Around and around they go, five different “Species” of instruments bouncing in and out of each other‘s space for their mutual benefit! Simply put, this band is so tight they probably all breathe in unison!
There’s a very amazing thing that happens when a band becomes this close….. unless the listener is really paying attention, it can be hard to tell exactly which instrument is playing when! The pickup notes from the banjo over riding the end of a dobro line can be so fast and precise that you can’t tell when one ends and the other begins. Even the tone of each instrument becomes similar….. the individual sounds of the dobro and the banjo together then almost make a third unique sound all it’s own! And when the guitar and bass are so rhythmically solid under the solos and the mandolin is playing right ON that off beat, that all powerful FEEL, that has to be earned, with years of practice and live performances, suddenly takes on a life of it’s own and you have….. MAGIC!
There are two instrumentals on The Hillbenders new CD, “CAN YOU HEAR ME?“, and both of them will blow the listener away. The first one...Read More

Great review from the Hudson Valley BGA Folks!!!
LINK: http://www.hvbluegrass.org/articles/reviews/800-the-hillbenders-can-you-hear-me.html

The Hillbenders have been a rising young force in the bluegrass/newgrass scene, taking the titles at the 2009 Telluride Bluegrass Band competition and the 2010 National Single Microphone Championship. They've been hitting the bluegrass festival scene and livening up events across the country, including locally at Greyfox. Their debut album Down To My Last Dollar was released in 2010.
Your very first thought on hearing the Hillbenders' sophomore release Can You Hear Me is "Wow! Somebody dug up a long lost New Grass Revival recording!"
Yes, it's that good... but your ear quickly picks up that this is not just a clone of NGR's sound; you'll find Chad Graves' slick resonator playing first, giving the songs a lilt and a swing. (I had to do some poking around to find out that Chad is not immediately related to Josh Graves, that would have been so appropriate!). When the lead vocals and harmonies come in, you find them a bit different than John Cowan and company... more like your favorite pair of old jeans, well broken in but too comfortable to give up... then the rest of the band comes in and keeps things taut with powerful playing backing all their tunes.
The album opens with "Train Whistle", which is most like a new addition to the NGR songbook. "Concrete Ribbon" with it's rock 'n roll groove and heavy bass along with a soaring resonator will quickly disabuse you from thinking this band is a clone of any other. "Radio" is a somewhat nostalgic look at how radio fits into life and fittingly is the song I would nominate as the most radio-friendly - if you're not tapping your foot you need your pulse checked :-) A little farther down the playlist is "Talking In Your Sleep," which may call up some vague memories. It's a cover of The Romantics 1983 hit, same lyrics but the glam replaced by hard driving newgrass. "Spinning In Circles" is a ode to your favorite barmaid and at the same time a paean to everyone that's stuck just getting by. "Gettysburg" is a mellow instrumental that will give you a little break from the intensity of the rest of the album. "Broken Promises" will again convince you that they've kidnapped NGR, (and I'm hoping the ransom doesn't get paid!) The album closes out with "Game Over" - a gritty broken-heart song.
The band is Mark Cassidy - Banjo, Gary Rea - Bass, Jim Rea - Guitar, Nolan Lawrence - Mandolin, and Chad "Gravy Boat" Graves - Dobro.
Keep your eye on them, they're taking bluegrass by storm!

Check out this review from Hittin' the Note Magazine!!


We blew the train whistle stridently last issue about the Hill benders and sure enough, they live up to the ballyhoo on Can You Hear Me? This second album of bluegrass-coated switchbacks from the Springfield, Missouri, based band bends the genre just enough to be daring, but never at the expense of custom or a superlative song. The melody in "Train Whistle" instantly takes you away, but that standard mountain theme is anything but through the voices of these men and the sweet wood and steel in their hands. Same goes for "Radio," where the outlook of getting a song played on it is relayed in the most exquisitely original way. There's rapid-fire musical ripping throughout, of course. Apply that to a cover of the Romantics ' 1983 power-pop hit "Talking in Your Sleep," and the results make for a bright, striking masterpiece. Even in the forbidding "Broken Promises," the melody skips along by way of the fabulous instrumentation. Like the Steeldrivers, the Hillbenders are infectious, sharp-edged, and full of heart and soul. As for the title query, yes, we hear everyone and everything, beautifully loud and clear. -Tom Clarke

We just got this amazing review sent our way from the fine folks over at Elmore Magazine. Check this out!!


THE HILLBENDERS Can You Hear Me? (COMPASS) The HillBenders are some of the wiliest bluesgrass pickers ever to show a mandolin who’s boss—and there’s plenty of proof in accolades like their championship at the 2009 Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition. On the band’s sophomore outing, Can You Hear Me?, you get the feeling that these guys are so much more than their genre. The record plays like a polished acoustic demo reel discovered in some prolifi c Nashville songwriter’s closet—songs that could easily transition to contemporary country radio and become bona fi de hits. Songs like “Spinning in Circles,” a story about a would-be dancer living the daily grind for her dream, and the roundtable instrumental tradeoff of “Heartache Thunderstorm,” in which vocalist Nolan Lawrence playfully laments his girl “leaving with the weatherman,” carry potent songwriting resourcefulness. Flawless harmonizers with vocals not simply relegated to background choruses, their voices complement a superbly cherry-picked cover of the Romantics’ “Talking in Your Sleep.” A cover of Hal Ketchum’s early 1990’s hit “Past the Point of Rescue” is done with a sense of tactical country muscle, the band’s impulsivity on display with an out-of-the-blue, Spanishsung tango for a mid-song breakdown. This sure ain’t your father’s bluegrass. The Hillbenders load creative volatility and virtuoso Americana into a powder keg of expressive, acoustic stringdom. -Mark Uricheck

We keep getting great feedback on the new record and wanted to share it with you guys. Check this one out from UK music magazine Properganda!!


The Hillbenders Can You Hear Me'? COMPASS COM45852 THE HILLBENDERS HAVE BEEN wowing audiences in the US and served notice of their obvious talents by winning the Bluegrass Band Competition at Telluride in 2009. It doesn't take very long to see what all the fuss is about either and sure, bluegrass bands are known for being able to play a bit, but this is exceptional. The classic combination of dobro, banjo, mandolin, guitar and upright bass delivers a truly remarkable sound and the vocals are also top notch. Nolan lawrence is the distinctive lead, but others take turns and add stunning harmonies. The songs are brilliant too and whilst titles like Train Whistle, Gettysburg, Heartache and Broken Promises might sound standard fare, such notions are quickly despatched with a flurry of fingers and tightly wound voices. Add Concrete Ribbon, Radio, Talking In Your Sleep and Spinning In Circles and your head may indeed be spinning with the sheer wonder of it all. Any one of those four is worth the disc price on its own, but to get all of them ... Absolutely class A brilliant! SC

Well folks, The HillBenders have completed another successful midwestern run promoting the new album "Can you hear me?". It was great to be back at Knucklheads and see all of our KC friends, old and new. Big thanks to Loaded Goat for opening the show, and for the old school after party. Friday was Cicero's in STL, killer spot on "The Loop". Thanks once again to The Root Diggers for opening the show, and sawin' a little fiddle with us. Saturday was another sold out show at Down Home Guitars in Frankfort, IL. ALWAYS a great time with the Frankfort crew, and you know who you are. Should be back there in the spring, stay tuned. Finally on Sunday we were blessed to play an awesome theater in Chicago, The Mayne Stage. We're pushing to get back here as well. What a place! Next is New Years Eve in the ole home base. Springfield get your shoes on. Till next time.

"Can You Hear Me?" has just skyrocketed up the Roots Music Report's Bluegrass Chart from #47 last week to #3 this week!!! What a jump!!! We can't wait to see what next week brings :) Thanks again to everyone out there giving us spins and requesting our tunes... We couldn't do it without you!!

Our new release "Can You Hear Me?" just debuted on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Airplay Singles Chart for December 2012 with our first single "Train Whistle" at #30 and rising! We are very thankful to all the DJ's out there giving us those spins, and to all of you fans out there requesting our music. Keep up the good work!!