Chad Updegraff &Skint Knuckles

At one point, upon Martindale's request, Chad Updegraff, front man of the
opening act, joined Cooder Graw on stage. Updegraff listened for a few bars
before chiming right in, sharing a microphone with Martindale.

Chad Updegraff is a local, in every sense of the word. He grew up in the
Frost and Mertens area and graduated from Frost High School, but claims
Ennis as his hometown.

Four years ago, Updegraff quit his job at a telephone company to answer
another call - a career in music.

"I have always written poetry and short stories. I write a lot of short
stories. And I always loved music, I just never thought about actually doing
it," he said. "Until one time, I had a poem that I though would be great put
to music."

With a guitar given to him by his father and some free time on his hands,
Updegraff learned to play the guitar and wrote his first song, at the age of
24. Little more than four years later, Updegraff has a four-person band and
his summer is nearly booked with shows. But none of them are complaining.

In fact, Updegraff's band, each of whom came to know Chad in a different
way, are happy and excited to be a part of his music.

"When I met Chad, I was playing classic rock with another and, but I was
happy to find a position in Chad's band," said Michael Svoboda, bass. "I
know that guy's going somewhere. He's got an up and coming sound that
crosses all kinds of boundaries. It has a mass appeal to all ages."

Chuck Edwards, lead guitar, has been with Chad the longest, however. The two
met at the party of a mutual friend four years ago.

"It's amazing that we didn't know each other sooner," Edwards said. "He was
picking a little, so I asked if I could play his guitar. So I played it a
little, and he said, â?~there's another guitar over there, want to jam a
little?'"

Edwards picked up that other guitar, and the two played, with Updegraff
testing Edwards' skills, pushing him to his limits. Not long after that,
Edwards received a call from Updegraff and the two quickly started up a
band.

"We've been through a lot of trials and tribulations, and a few bassists and
drummers," he said.

The group they have now, however, is cohesive, energetic and talented.
Updegraff, Edwards and Svoboda are joined by drummer Taylor Houdek.

"Our sound is a little out of the ordinary and out of the blue. We have an
old time sound, but a new wave sound at the same time," Houdek said.

Updegraff has his own definition of his group's sound.

"We're roots rock. Alternative country," he said. "A lot of people call us
Texas music, but that's a tough call. We're trying to stay true to what we
are. But it is Texas music in the sense that this is where I grew up, this
is where I was bred, and this is where I got dumped and arrested."

- Micah Chaplin/ Ennis Daily News