Deadman Flats

Deadman Flats (DMF) sound exemplifies the raw, energetic, acoustic style that is an embodiment of the Mudstomp movement. Members include native Kansans: Alex Law on guitar, Hank Osterhout on upright bass, Matt Stambaugh on mandolin and Pat Watt on banjo. Law and Osterhout sing lead vocals as Stambaugh and Watt harmonize.

Since its inception five years ago, DMF has extensively toured the United States and recently returned home from their international debut in Europe. The band’s up-tempo songs about booze and women are colored with shredding guitar licks and explosive bass lines that seduce all walks of life to move their feet. The urge to dance and celebrate the simple things in life have earned DMF a loving and loyal following. The Pitch of Kansas City hails Deadman Flats as, “a celebration of Mudstomp’s core values: simplicity, freedom and speed.”

Deadman Flats released their first album entitled Antlers in 2007 and their second album Read’em and Weap was released in 2009. The band is currently working on their third album, which will be released in 2011 by Mudstomp Records. Deadman Flats has also recorded a live DVD performance, filmed in their hometown of Lawrence, Kansas. More information about Deadman Flats can be found at www.mudstomp.com and http://deadmanflats.com.

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Name: Alex Law

Instrument: Guitar
Birthday: 2-27-1985
Hometown: Hutchinson, Kansas
Current Residence: Lawrence, Kansas
Years with the Band: 5

History: When I was little my aunts, uncles and friends of my parents would always ask me to play the guitar during gatherings so I basically have been playing for a crowd all my life. As far as performing for crowds these days, my philosophy is to play that guitar the way I would want to see someone playing it on stage if I was in the crowd watching. Make the fans happy and it will make me happy. I went to Winfield in the 6th grade for the first time and have made it back every year since. That has really helped me to play with my ears and jam with other people. In 2005, I moved to Lawrence and formed DMF with the other members. Mike Helvey was our original banjo player and I met him on Mass St. jamming together trying to earn a buck. After a few of our North Lawrence bbq’s he was in the band, but left a year later to return to work. A lot of my songs come from peaceful daydreaming while fishing and driving. However, MOST of my songs are improved on the spot, improved during a good jam. Somehow the words just come to me when the moment is right.

Music Influences: Favorite Bands/Music Genre: Kirk Rundstrom, Split Lip Rayfield, Ween, Hank Williams, Hank III, Slayer, Dead Milkmen, Dead Kennedy’s, Butthole Surfers

Hobbies/Favorite Past-times:
Shooting guns, Fishing

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Name: Hank Osterhout

Instrument: Upright Bass
Birthday: 2-21-1985
Hometown: Hutchinson, Kansas
Current Residence: Lawrence, Kansas
Years with the Band: 5

History: I grew up in a small town where I soaked up as much about bass playing as the Kansas school systems could teach. Back then my music teacher would tell me that I was shaking my head while I played, but I was just keeping count. After attending junior college and traveling through the cosmos, I moved to Lawrence with my boyhood friends (Alex and Matt), where Deadman Flats was formed. I spend much of my time lighting fires for the band, as spreading the gospel of Mudstomp to every man, woman and child.

Musical Influences: Favorite Bands/Music Genre: Living, Beta Band, Radiohead, Old Dirty Bastard, Old school hip hop, Old school butt-rock, Slayer, Anthrax, Dead Kennedy’s, my Mom, Mozart, Beethoven, Charles Mingus, Flea, Primus, The State of Kansas, The Pecan Grove @ Winfield, KS.

Hobbies/Favorite Past-times: Rocking Out, Skateboarding, Back-packing

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Name: Matt Stambaugh

Instrument: Mandolin
Birthday: 5-25-1983
Hometown: Hutchinson, Kansas
Current Residence: Lawrence, KS
Years with the Band: 5

History: I am the son of a Kansas Preacher, so surprisingly I got my start in a church praise group, and as soon as I was old enough I converted to metal and punk. I started playing piano at 7, guitar at 12 and then picked up the mandolin at 21.

After a few moves around the state and many years of failed bands and stolen amplifiers, I found that the passion and creativity that belonged in metal and punk had been overly commercialized into a fairly generic sound. I slowly found that same passion for creativity in much of the acoustic and roots music from around the mid-west and beyond.

Music Influences: Favorite Bands/Music Genre: Slayer, Medeski, Martin and Wood, Soul Coughing, Amy Grant, Tom Waits, Tool, Metallica, Miles Davis and all the drunk mechanics that have taken care of our broken down vehicles.

Favorite quote from a Venue Owner: “I like you guys, you show up, eat as much meat as you can, drink all that you can, play as long as you can, and then leave.”

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Name:Patrick Watt  

Instrument: Banjo
Birthday: 6-19-1984
Hometown: Americus, Kansas
Current Residence: Lawrence, KS
Years with the Band: 4

History: I was born in Winfield, KS but moved out to north Lyon County at a very young age. I grew up way out in the country with my brother and sister playing in the woods and running through fields. I moved to Hutchinson for college and met the rest of the band. After college, I started playing the banjo and soon joined the band after the original member (Mike Helvey) went back to work. Since then I have been a banjo nerd, listening, thinking, playing, watching, and talking about the banjo nearly all the time.

Music Influences: Favorite Bands/Music Genre: Kirk Rundstrom, Split Lip Rayfield, Old Crow Medicine Show, all my many Banjo Brothers

Hobbies/Favorite Past-times: Disc golf, Movies, Beer, Music