Texas Bad Cats Biography

 Robert “Bob” Hernandez is an Austin native and experienced musician, playing in Austin since 1968. Although self-taught, Bob reads music and can play a wide rage of musical genres including Rock, Blues, Americana, Jazz, Fusion, Latin, & Country. He shreds on lead and rhythm guitar and has a plethora of electric and acoustic instruments he rotates through depending on the demands of the music, including guitars by PRS, Fender, & Gibson and amps by Fender, Roland, Kendrick, & BadCat (not where the amp got its name, but we’re going with it!). Bob also prides himself with replicating the original guitar sounds used on songs with effects by Boss, Thorpy, Fulltone, MXR, MJM, MISSION, TC Electronics, Ibanez, One Control, JHS, Supro, Neo and Strymon. You may even catch Bob singing lead on a few songs here and there or helping with the sweet Texas Bad Cats harmonies. Bob’s played many venues including Austin 6th street, Auditorium Shores, North and South Austin clubs, Country Clubs, Private parties and recording sessions. Some of Bob’s previous bands include Straight Talk, Big Daddy and the Dirty Dogs, El Kabong, Spirithouse, Chill Factor and Dansworth Junction.

 Although born in the land of the blues – Chicago, IL, Matthias D’Autremont had the opportunity to grow up in Hawaii, which provided an entirely different cultural music experience. Matthias got an early start singing with the prestigious Honolulu Boy Choir and leading the award-winning Damien high school drumline. Later, he played Tahitian and Polynesian percussion for hula shows on cruise ships and at Waikiki hotels. He also played drums in reggae, rock and country bands all over the state. Matthias studied under the top jazz fusion drummers in Hawaii, who encouraged him to attend the Musicians Institute in LA and he graduated with honors in 1991. He played the LA music scene and was hired for three consecutive tours throughout Asia with the renown Gwen Brisco R&B show band. He returned to Hawaii and was the drummer for award-winning Hawaiian Rap band Sudden Rush and recorded studio percussion with various artists including Hawaiian music superstar Keali’I Reichel. While living in Silicon Valley, Matthias toured and recorded with original singer songwriter Kimberlee Leber and formed Highway One with Glenn Lowe. Matthias moved to Austin, TX in 2012 and played with a number of classic rock bands before forming Texas Bad Cats in 2018. He also volunteers as a Worship Director and drummer at Austin Christian northside.  

  Marcos Esparza has been playing piano as long as he can remember, and he can remember a lot!  He grew up active in the Houston area theatre community before moving to Austin, where he earned a degree in Theatre and Dance with a focus on acting from University of Texas.  Playing piano has always been a special part of his life.   His musical influences come from many hours listening to classics like Beatles, Journey, Cream, CCR, 3 Dog Night, Elton and Billy Joel with his dad. Now an Austinite for 24 years, Marcos has 3 amazing kids that also love music and the arts.  He enjoys hamming it up while rockin’ out with Texas Bad Cats! 

David Hall was innately drawn to music since he was young.  As a child was constantly getting into trouble for sneaking away from his Sunday school classes to find the piano not being used so that he could play it.  He begged his parents to buy him a guitar.  When he got it, he played until his fingers ached.  David got into rock and roll and picked up a bass guitar to help balance his jam sessions with his friends, but then he realized he loved the bass just as much as the guitar.  He played bass in a band for several years in high school and played shows regularly while also singing in choirs and musicals.  He went to college at the renowned school of University of North Texas where he graduated with a BA in Music with a concentration in piano, while continuing to play bass and guitar in bands outside of school.  Now he indulges his love of music by jamming with some Bad Cats!