Thank you so much for talking with us! For newer fans, how did your passion for music and career come about? Going to various music festivals as a kid with our grandparents.
What was the best piece of advice you've ever been given about pursuing a career in music? If your gonna run with the big dogs, you got to get off of the porch.
What song that you have recorded means the most to you and why? "Locust Street,"from our Bums and Hookers album. Mom and Dad use to take us every weekend to St.Louis to help the homeless. The song gives you a view from a ten year old's perspective It's a redemption story.
You recently released your new album, "Every Dog Has Its Day," that you also wrote. Tell us about the writing process and where the idea came from. The writing process was pretty simple. It was one of those songs that just fell from the sky. I basically gathered all the old sayings that my dad and my grandpa would say, added a little Alabama esque to the instrumentation.
How was it filming the video for "Every Dog Has Its Day?" It was pretty cool at first we were going to mount a gopro on "Lady" Dennijo's bloodhound and do the whole video, but it was to shaky. Over all David McGowan {Director} really came through on creating the video through the eyes of (Lady). She was a natural!
Was there ever music playing in the kitchen growing up? Mom always sang.
How do you drink your coffee? Black
What is your favorite breakfast? Two hard eggs, French toast, grits with a little butter and sugar
What is your favorite sandwich? Open-face deer roast and mashed potatoes and gravy.
If you could be sponsored by one food/drink brand who would it be and why? Black Rifle coffee. Our dad, uncles and grandpa were all veterans.
One thing is apparent when you listen to The Flat River Band. The trio, comprised of siblings Andy, Dennijo, and Chad Sitze, love to have fun when they are playing music – and it shows.
This bond has carried the success of the band throughout the years as the trio has opened for the Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, TG Sheppard, among others.
The brothers have also charted #1 hits on the bluegrass gospel charts as well as have had their songs featured in the 2018 movie “The Least of These — A Christmas Story” featuring Duane Allen (Oak Ridge Boys), Deborah Allen, and Tayla Lynn (Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter).
That unabandoned joy and love of music comes to the forefront when you listen to the band’s new album, Every Dog Has Its Day. The trio’s fifth effort is one that the band is very excited to bring to the attention of its fans.
Aaron McDaris who plays with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage was brought into play banjo, and much to the brothers’ surprise, he brought with him his 1934 Gibson RB-3 that was owned by Sonny Osborne who recorded the University of Tennessee’s theme song “Rocky Top” with that same banjo in 1967. One of Dennijo’s guitar superheroes, Johnny Hiland who is legally blind was brought in to play the electric guitar, while Stuart Duncan played fiddle.
Those all-star names only add to the first—rate musicianship that fans have expected from The Flat River Band over the years. Again, Chad chalks that up to the undeniable bond between the three brothers that grew through a dozen years performing at Branson’s Silver Dollar City and five at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge.
And just as the band features some special guests on instrumentation, they also include some of Nashville’s top tunesmiths on the disc, such as “In Another World,” a co-write with the highly respected John Scott Sherrill (“Some Fools Never Learn,” “The Church On Cumberland Road.”).
Telling stories – whether it be that of John or their own – is what the Flat River Band is all about.
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