Hepcat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hepcat | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Origin |  California, United States |
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| Genre(s) | Ska, Rocksteady | |
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This article is about a musical band. For information on the jazz and Beatnik culture term, see hipster.
Hepcat is a third-wave ska band formed in southern California in 1989.
Their soulful harmonies and mellow rhythms were unlike those of contemporaries and more akin to musicians from the heyday of 1960s Jamaican ska, also referred to as the first wave.
Hepcat's debut album, Out of Nowhere was released in 1993 on New York-based ska label Moon Records. Two years later, they followed it up with Scientific on BYO Records. In 1998, after signing with Epitaph Records subsidiary HellCat Records, they released Right on Time, scoring a modest hit with the swinging "No Worries" and scored a spot on the Vans Warped Tour. 2000 saw the release of Push n' Shove, their first album without founding members Raul Talavera and Alex Désert, although the latter appears as a guest vocalist on two tracks.
The band went on a short hiatus after 2000, then reunited in March of 2003, bringing back members of the "Scientific" lineup, sans alto sax Raul Talavera. Hepcat has since continued to play occasionally, with most appearances close to their home in Los Angeles. Beginning August of 2006, Hepcat has begun recording for a new album which they hope to release by 2007.
A few members of Hepcat have also participated in other endeavors. Trumpeter Kincaid Smith formed Soul Traffic, a five-piece funk band. Drummer Scott Abels has played with the Rancid side project Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards and the southern California reggae act The Aggrolites. Vocalist Alex Desert has had a successful career in film and television, appearing in the movies PCU, Swingers, and High Fidelity; and the television show Becker.
In early 2004, a remastered version of Out of Nowhere was released with two additional bonus tracks—an early version of "Nigel" and "Club Meditation"—both of which appeared on their first single.
The term "Hepcat" originates from an early slang term (1930–35) pertaining to an admirer or devotee of jazz, esp. swing, or one that was "hep," or a hipster. The band is actually named after a cat once owned by vocalist Alex Desért, named "Hep."
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[edit] Discography
- Out of Nowhere (1993), Moon Ska Records
- Scientific (1996), BYO Records
- Right on Time (1998), Hellcat Records
- Push n' Shove (2000), Hellcat Records
- Out of Nowhere (Hellcat re-release with two bonus tracks) (2004)
[edit] Current Members (as of 2003)
- Greg Lee- vocals
- Alex Desért- vocals
- Deston Berry- keys and vocals
- Dave Fuentes- bass, E. upright
- Efren Santana- tenor sax (joined on Scientific)
- Kincaid Smith- trumpet, flugelhorn (joined on Scientific)
- Lino Trujillo- guitar (from Scientific)
- Greg Narvas- drums and percussion (Out of Nowhere / Scientific)
[edit] Past members
- Alex Désert- vocals (full member through Right on Time, but appears on Push n' Shove)
- Raul Talavera- alto sax (through Right on Time)
- Lino Trujillo- guitar (Scientific, credited as an additional musician on Right on Time)
- Greg Narvas- drums and percussion (through Scientific)
- Dave Hillyard- tenor sax (Out of Nowhere)
- Dennis Wilson- guitar (Out of Nowhere)
- Aaron Owens- guitar (credited as an additional musician on Right on Time, joined on Push n' Shove)
- Chris Castanon- drums (in between scientific and push n shove)
- Scott Abels- drums and percussion (credited as an additional musician on Right on Time, joined on Push n' Shove)
