I saw these guys up at the Stone Church in Newmarket, NH. They are the real deal: smart, weird, talented, serious about their craft, and they posess that elusive gift for writing good songs - something most bands lack in every genre. They're bluegrass with brains and character. They should be famous. Support these guys if you can,

This is a very good album and instantly likeable. It also demonstrates something that always amazes me - the real strength in depth of american music and the terrific levels of musicianship in country music. Despite many years of listening to alternative country music I had no idea that this band existed and I bought the album off a CDBaby recommendation. The album starts very strongly and only weakens slightly towards the end (but for that it would be a 5 star offering) This is excellent upbeat bluegrass, a kind of cross between Jim Lauderdale and OCMS. I'm so impressed I've instantly ordered other albums from the same band.

Bringing a rowdy, rebellious and scoundrel-like nature to the medium of traditional bluegrass and country folk, The Benders deliver unrelenting, sometimes frantic, sometimes sharp-edged and mishief-making, whiskey-guzzling music with no qualms about throwing in some rock or blues influence here and there (or whatever they fancy) to light up these songs with crooked hillbilly danger. Twelve tracks pack this album, "Mountain Radio" with consistenly driving, blood-boiling momentum so that one is- unbeknownst to them before it is too late- swept up in a storm of twang and jangle that no one in their right mind would want to be rescued from, no matter how tattered and breathless they are in the end. Whether you call it bluegrass, newgrass, folkgrass or darkgrass, after only a few minutes into it, you'll understand why it simply doesn't matter.