VALLEY COUNTRY: Sons of the Rio Grande

Being the grandsons of the lead singer of the local legendary The Country Roland Band comes with perks, but also high expectations.

Three of the members of Sons of the Rio Grande are brothers and the fourth is a cousin. And like most siblings, there is constant rivalry. Rarely do they play one performance without a fight amongst them, but Rene Gonzalez says he thinks they perform better with a little tension.

They've all been a part of music in some way almost all their lives, though the band is still young. And they'll probably always play music.

"As a musician, you can't ever get it out of your system," said Rene.

Since: 2006
Hometown: McAllen
Where do you live now: McAllen
Upcoming show: N/A
Who do they sound like? Aaron Watson + The Eagles  Sons of the Rio Grande
Influences: The Country Roland Band, The Eagles, The Counting Crows, George Strait, Kevin Fowler
Who's in the band and what's their role:
Rene Gonzalez, Jr., 30, Peavey T40 bass.
Bob Gonzalez, 24, lead guitarist who prefers Fender.
Mike Gonzalez, 20, guitarist who also plays a Fender.
Matt Gonzalez, 18, bangs on D Drums. 

Check out this song by Sons of the Rio Grande. "Back in Dallas" - 717 MySpace plays - Classic country from a new band doesn't get much better than this. Piano, fiddle, guitars, a twang and you can dance to it!

COUNTRY CRED: 3.5 out of 5 cowboy hats

Favorite country song? Rene - "Looking for Love" by Johnny Lee; Bob - "Laying Low" by Ashley Monroe; Mike - "Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me?" by Keith Urban; Matt - "Highway 40 Blues" by Ricky Skaggs

What brand of jeans do you wear? One wears Wranglers, two claim Levis and one sticks to Dickies.

Do you wear cowboy boots? The majority of the band do, with one rebel who sticks to Vans or Converse.

A cowboy hat? Hats aren't as popular with the band, with only one guy who dons a cowboy hat for a show.

How thick is their accent? What accent?

What was the best concert you've seen? Mike and Matt both cited Cory Morrow as the best performer they've ever seen on stage because he simply puts on a long, good show. The other two have seen some concerts, but don't think they've seen the best one yet.

Favorite beer? Rene - Budweiser; Bob - Newcastle; Mike - Budweiser Select; Matt - Miller Lite

How does a Valley crowd differ from a regular country crowd? "When you play anywhere else than the Valley, the crowds treat you better. They appreciate the music more," said Rene. Often the bands are treated like proverbial rock stars - being asked for autographs, to pose for photos, etc. Down south, any band is lucky if they get light applause.

What is your dream gig? A few of the brothers said a large venue would be ideal, but Bob seems happy with any audience. "I don't care if I'm in a bar or an arena, I play music because I love it." Brother Rene agreed, "We were taught to play for three as if we're playing for 3,000."