Troy Farnham

Band Leader

Rhythm Guitar

 Lead & Harmony Vocals

Troy Farnham grew up in a small town in Missouri.  He joined the school choir his freshman year and soon became the lead male vocal of Nevada High’s dance group called “Soundsational Singers”.  The group performed in several states and sang the National Anthem at the opening night of a Royal’s baseball game!  While still singing with the school’s dance group, Troy started a country band called “The Renegades” with several of his closest friends.  They performed at their home state events, including homecomings, weddings and fairs and rodeos. "The Renegades" stayed together for four years, until Troy joined the Air Force and was transferred to Austin, Texas.  Troy missed music and the camaraderie of his band members in Missouri.  Moving to Austin, the "Live Music Capital of the World", was a golden opportunity to get back into the music arena.  So in 1984, he put together another band, “Haywire”.  He and the band members poured a lot of sweat and tears but it paid off.  They eventually had bookings throughout the Lone Star State.  If there was a dance hall, Haywire was there and so were their fans!  Haywire was Rockin’ in a “Countrified” way!  Troy was star struck by the awesome talents in Austin and he shared the stage with some of the greatest: "Willie Nelson", "Asleep at the Wheel", "Trisha Yearwood", "Johnny Gimble", "Cal Smith", "Larry Gaitlin" and "Mary Eagan Hattersley" (Sweet Mary).  Next time you see Troy, ask him to show you the autographs on his guitar!  Email Troy at thebandhaywire@sbcglobal.net

Chris Lawrence

Acoustic Guitar

Lead & Harmony Vocals

Chris is a second generation Haywire performer and the youngest member in the band (youngest by about 15 years!).  Lisa, Chris' late mother, was the original female lead singer in Haywire performing with her sister (Chris' aunt) Shelly. Chris would hang out at the Haywire gigs and would crawl into a guitar case when he got sleepy (yes, he was that small then).

Besides being an accomplished "hoola hooper" and bowler, Chris has developed into a outstanding singer and performer. You would be doing yourself a favor by coming out and hearing Chris' vocal talent.  Chris can be reached  at thebandhaywire@sbcglobal.net

Donny Brewer

Musical Director

Recording Engineer

Lead Guitar

Lead & Harmony Vocals

Donny is a born and raised Texan from the tiny town of Lytton Springs, located south of Austin, population - a few of Donny's kinfolk and friends.  From the day his hippie parents brought him home from the hospital he was pelted with "Hendrix", "the Stones", "the Who", and all the rest of that devil music turned up to 11 in the back a Volkswagen Squareback. The constant bombardment of loud British bands continued through his youth until high school (when he was able to select his own loud British bands to pollute his brain.)  This lead to, of course, picking up a guitar and joining innumerable garage bands, a habit that continued through college where he discovered wonderful world of the blues, but was ambushed by the big hair 80's.  It wasn't until someone actually offered him money for playing that he decided to quit college and go play country music on the road.   

Donny toured the U.S. opening for country acts such as "Restless Heart", "Tim Mcgraw", "Tanya Tucker", "Aaron Tippin", "Sammy Kershaw", "Billy Ray Cyrus", "Randy Travis", and many others at state fairs and "Aquafest" shows. While fame and fortune was imminent, he decided instead to start a family and get off the road.  Donny now enjoys working with Haywire as well as “Trainwreck” (a Classic Rock/Blues band with his brother and father), and a few other projects.

Come see Haywire and you'll be treated to all Donny's career experiences and styles as he crams them all into one show. Don't forget to ask for a Stevie Ray song if you want to see that "my guitar stinks" look in his face.  Donny also has a digital recording studio available these days.   Please email him for ANY of your recording needs, from a 17 piece band to "record my baby making strawberry noises" at cowpattystudios@aol.com

Paul Klemme

Keyboards, Piano, Synthesizer,  Harmony Vocals

Paul has been in the Austin area since early 1977, after escaping the confines of Topeka, Kansas, where one of his early influences, the band Kansas, got its start. In Austin, Paul has played live and recorded extensively with such groups as Honey River, The Small Band, Moonstone, Low Profile, Pleaser, Tricky Business, Chain Reaction, Haywire, Tongue ’N’ Groove, Bent Timbre, The Austin Rockafellas, Band of Gold, and River City Soul, among others. In 1981 he recorded an album on Teardrop Records with Austin’s Own Street People, and in 1982 he toured the country with Rush Hour. Some of the bands with which he’s played have opened for acts such as Badfinger, Tierra, Carl Carlton, Little Joe y La Familia, and many others.
  

Byron Neathery

Bass Guitar

Audio Engineer

Stage Manager

As the newest addition to the band, Byron contributes his musical talents performing on the bass guitar.  Byron spent the mid to late 70's touring with the band "Slipstream".  It was in the mid 80’s when he decided to return to his roots in southeast Texas and pursue his musical career.  Soon after settling back home, Byron worked with up and coming country stars at the George Jones' concert venue "Jones Country" located in Colmesneil, Texas.  Here, he met and became friends with the up and coming "Tracy Byrd" and newly signed "Mark Chestnut". 

Armed with this experience, Byron returned to Austin...sitting in and freelancing in many local bands while looking for the right opportunity.  This is how he met Haywire's original drummer, David Mendoza.  Working well together and with an eye for talent, David recommended Byron at every opportunity.  Finally, they became band mates in Austin's "Steel Rail Band" in a mid 90's tour of the most popular night clubs and dancehalls in Texas.  When David moved on to re-join Haywire in 1997, Byron was asked to fill-in on bass...leading to even more performances with The Band HAYWIRE.  Meanwhile, Byron continued his career performing with up and coming Country vocalists "Pete Benz", "Dustin Henderson", and most recently, "Dave Jorgenson".  Byron concluded this interview with these comments - " I love Austin and I am committed to the Haywire band because of the unbelievable variety and talent that exists in this band."

The Band HAYWIRE welcomes Byron's work ethic, enthusiasm, and stellar performances to the band!  Byron can be reached at byronneathery@yahoo.com