the official Chad Graves IBMA report:

Would like to say hey to all the folks I met out at IBMA, and old friends i got to see again. I had an absolute blast this year. I didnt get to sit around and play all the resos like i usually do, as that i was working so hard to push the HillBenders name. which, btw, if all goes like i think it might you may be hearing A LOT more of soon.

i did get the chance to swing by Bettys Dobro party. had a great time there, as always. Randy K rolled in twards the end and played a version of Dobro Chimes that pretty much melted my face. course about everything he does melts my face.

down in the trade show Rayco had two guitars. Both living up to if not exceeding the usual level of excellence that ive come to love about them. the Indigo might have been my favorite.i also ran into the feller (i suck with names) with the new Rayco ResNick 5 string banjoish thing. such a cool sounding instrument! and it looks good too.

i got the chance to test drive Beards new Odyssey, and im tellin ya they've got a hit on there hands there. Probably the one reso that sticks out in my mind the most is the Benoit all wood tricone. Holy smokes i am telling you that the photos i had seen do not even come close to doing it justice. That thing is truly a masterpiece. and he and his wife seem to be genuinely great people. always very friendly to me.

the late night showcases the Hillbenders did went EXTREMELY well. we even got invited to do several more by some very surprising people, keep an ear out for more about that.

If youve never heard of the band Sex Fist, you should. they can be seen playing around the bar scene in chicago. very grassy, with a rock and roll edge. i got the opportunity to sit in with them in the colorodo bluegrass suite. playing everything from bill monroe tunes to a great rendition of "Helter Skelter"

Chad Graves' recommendations of the year: if you have not heard of the Toy Hearts, get in gear and check them out. Stewart Johnson is a very good reso player, and banjo player. he uses the big ole steel bar with the round end and uses it to do some incredible stuff with slants, using the round end to hit two strings across the same fret. and he is one of the coolest cats ive ever met. his two daughters are in the band. Hannah's voice is mesmerizing, and Sophia is a wicked guitar player!! the harmonys are super tight. The music is somewhere between bluegrass and swing. My infactuation with there band has nothing to do with the fact that Hannah and Sophia are two extremely gorgeous girls from england, with those heart melting acents.. Seriously though, they have a great sound. go see for yourself. http://www.myspace.com/thetoyhearts be sure to watch the videos at the bottom . Montpellier street is in the top of my Ipod most listened to songs. Also be sure to keep a lookout for G2!

all in all it was the most exhausting IBMA ive ever been to but proably the most benificial. stay tuned. as soon as i get the official word on some of the gigs that im almost positive youll be seeing the HillBenders at, your gonna be very supprised. heck im still supprised!!!