The Band
Small Town Son’s songs are all about the people, be they grass roots blue collar folks trying to pay the mortgage, or the young men and women who are still out there looking for answers, it’s the songs that make us all. The sound is country rock, a mix of southern rockers like Jason Aldean and ZZ-Top, with honest country in the style of Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, and Toby Keith. But the life’s blood of Small Town Son is in the honest, every man’s songwriting and melodies that any person can relate to.
”I want the the songs I write to be real, to be honest words about honest people’s lives. Whether you’re going broke, falling in love, fighting with your folks, or laughing it up with your buddies, there’s a song in that. Basically, I want to write the soundtrack to your life.” STS’s style of real-life country poetry, over clever guitar playing and haunting melodies, demonstrates the diverse musical environment that STS grew up around.
Small Town Son endorses: GHS Strings, Medicine Man custom drums and Saluda cymbals.
Kris Hitchcock - guitar and lead vocals
Kris is never more comfortable than when he has a guitar in his hands. And having been playing in bands and writing songs since the age of 13, that’s been most of the time.
“Music has been my outlet all of my life; whenever something else didn’t make sense, I always could find the truth in a song to get me through it. The key for us on stage is to share those moments; you get the chance to leave behind the daily grind of work and life, and listen to songs that make you say ‘yeah, I’ve been there.’”
Hometown:
Grass Lake, Mi
Birthday:
May 13
Musical Influences:
Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Trent Willmon, U2, Matchbox 20, Phil Vassar, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Eagles, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Bobby Pinson, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Waylon Jennings, Rivers Rutherford, Michael W Smith, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp
Endorses:
Arizona Iced Tea, Broken Lizard Movies, Silver Jeans, Justin Cowboy Boots, John Deere, Newspapers, Target, Western Michigan University
Gear:
FENDER G&L Telecaster ‘85
IBANEZ Artstar Hollow Body ‘93
YAMAHA Compass Series acoustic guitar ‘03
CRESTWOOD Bluebird Acoustic Guitar ‘85
FENDER Stage 1000 Amplifier ‘04
GHS Strings
Dan Anspaugh - bass guitar and vocals
For Dan, music has been the road to keep him sane. Dan has busted his knuckles working 60 hours a week most of his life, and that honest living gives him a great edge when helping to write songs for real people. He also brings his style and personality to the bass and stage show that make Small Town Son memorable.
“I’ve been broke most of my life, so it’s good to bring some cheap entertainment to normal people that ain’t got a lot to spend.”
Hometown:
Pittsford, Mi
Birthday:
April 26
Musical Influences:
Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ricky Skaggs, AC/DC, The entire cast of HeeHaw, My Grandaddy (Richard Anspaugh)
Endorses:
Red Bull, McDonalds, any brand Ramen noodle
Gear:
SCHECTER Bass
BERRINGER Head
HARTKE Amplifiers
GIBSON acoustic guitars,
GHS strings
“Those who can do should; those who can’t do should get the hell outta the way”
Ian Szarafinski - guitar and vocals
Ian brings a different sound to the group as well. His clever guitar playing and musical knowledge allows STS to take their live show to whole new heights. One of the more intelligent musicians ever to grace a country stage, Ian also adds his perfect harmonies to the modern sound. With a background ranging from metal to acoustic rock, and the ability to play nearly any instrument with strings, Ian more than holds down his side of the show.
“I like sweaters. I like red sweaters, green sweaters, or even red and green sweaters. If it’s a sweater, I’m so there!”
Hometown:
Jonesville, Mi
Birthday:
May 11
Musical Influences:
Endorses:
Sweaters
Gear:
FENDER Tele Mex Telecaster,
FENDER Twin Reverb Amp
EPIPHONE Mandolin
MARTIN Acoustic guitar
Billy “the Bear” Justice - drums
Hometown:
Martin, MI
Birthday:
Dec 7th
Drummers:
Tim ”herb” Alexander, Rich Redmond, Chris McHugh, Mike Portnoy, and Kent Slucher.
Endorses:
Medicine man custom drums and saluda cymbals
Susan Belliel - Fiddle
Hometown:
Redford, MI
Birthday:
Feb 20th
