Click on the Band Member
that you want to know
more about or click the barn
to reset the band Bio...
The Gunhands, a five piece country band based in Austin Texas, will probably never be confused with a group of male fashion models. However, there is no doubt about the music they bring to the stage. Although acoustic guitars are in the mix, the Gunhands bring an electric Country/Rock performance to every show they play. Formed in 2004, Missouri transplants Nathan Mayes and Matt Felton gathered some musician friends to fill out their sound. The group played shows across Texas and quickly learned how to have a blast on stage while delighting the crowds with high octane performances of beer drinking country music.
Growing up the son of a minister and a music teacher gave Mayes the background for good lyrical ideas and even better chord progressions. Singing lead while playing slide and acoustic guitar, he never followed in his mother’s classical footsteps. Make no mistake, players of Beethoven and Bach the Gunhands are not. However, with Felton’s driving bass and Dave Littrell’s antics on the drum set, there is no confusion about the musical direction of this band. Tennessee native Lew Card rips into his mandolin with reckless abandon on songs such as “Afraid of Committing” and “Go Do Something Else”, while native Texan Richard Benavidez’s anecdotal song lyrics keep “Hard Straight Line” and “Hands Off Of You” driving along.
There are musical cues from Old Crow Medicine Show, Hank Williams Jr., Alabama, Jerry Jeff Walker, Waylon, Willie, Merle, Johnny, Conway, and Jones. The list of influences is long and distinguished. These pioneers taught the Gunhands everything they needed to know about playing raucous country music. With each show the Gunhands play there are more converts than at a tent revival.
Musically sound, lyrically true, and morally bankrupt, the time for the Gunhands has come…
Full Name: Dr. Lewis Card III
Known Aliases: The Doctor, Lewcifer, Lewtard, Joseph
Instrument: Mandolin
Physical Description: Excessive Red Fur under a Gimme Cap
Accomplishments: Sings, plays mando-bird, chain-smokes, looks geeked out on speed
Favorite Pastime: Trying to remain above the table at "The Horseshoe"
Religion: Doesn't think that far forward...
Arrests: ? - Currently on the lam
Full Name: David Litrell
Known Aliases: Rattlesnake Dave, Cosmic Dave
Instrument: Drums
Physical Description: Bald, Eyeglasses, Bulging liver
Accomplishments: Plays improbably large drum set, speeds up every song, drinks profusely
Favorite Pastime: Goldschlager
Religion: Yeah Right...
Arrests: 3 - Pending trial
Full Name: Richard Benavidez
Known Aliases: Benaweedez, Tejonkee, The Mexican MacGyver, Juandini
Instrument: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Physical Description: Short stature, Shifty, Blood-shot eyes
Accomplishments: Sings, plays rhythm guitar, dons mexican cape and sombrero, forgets lyrics and chords, mumbles
Favorite Pastime: Inhaling, Working 17 jobs
Religion: Aztec Serpent Worship
Arrests: Lost count after 12
Full Name: Nathaniel Glen Charles Mayes
Known Aliases: Trash, Trashish, P.W.T.
Instrument: Lead Guitar, Slide, Banjo, Vocals
Physical Description: Egg-shaped head, Extended beer gut, Questionable dental hygiene
Accomplishments: Sings, plays lead and slide guitar badly but thinks he's good, chides Benavidez for forgotten lyrics but butchers his own songs due to mild brain damage, crowds stage with super-inflated ego
Favorite Pastime: Shooting rats at the dump
Religion: German Lutheran
Arrests: 2
Full Name: Matthew Frank Felton
Known Aliases: None on record
Instrument: Bass, Vocals
Physical Description: Fit, Robotic knees, Country cool attitude
Accomplishments: Plays spotty bass, wears tight pants, hits on chicks, e.t.c
Favorite Pastime: Artificially inseminating cows
Religion: NFL
Arrests: None