HEPCAT
Push 'N Shove (Hellcat)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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The latest wave of ska has largely crashed ashore lately, leaving the beach awash in vagrant trombone players and two-tone oxfords. As the fad aspects of the scene have subsided, though, there are survivors. I wish that the survivors of any musical craze were always the best talents with the strongest material, but that's almost never true. Happily, this seems to be the exception that proves the rule. Third Wave ska produced few better talents than Hepcat, and Hepcat survives.

Make that Hepcat rules.

Fronted by Greg Lee And Deston Berry, two of the best voices in the field, blessed with an ability to create strong new material rooted deeply in the traditions of ska and rock steady and backed by a label willing to let them do it right, Hepcat are back with another exceptional album of music that brings the best of Trenchtown circa 1960 into 21st century SoCal. The band behind Lee and Berry, Efren Santana (tenor sax), Kincaid Smith (trumpet), Dave Fuentes (bass), Scott Abels (drums) and Aaron Owens (guitar) are full partners in the sound. They're tight, tough and on time on every track. As much as I enjoy the lead voices, the addition of Karina Denike on "Prisoner Of Love" is the perfect touch at the perfect time. Covers are a ska tradition, and Brenton Woods' "Gimme Little Sign" was born to be covered by a ska band. This ska band.

This is a strong, soulful album from start to finish. Hepcat rules.

Track List:

Push 'N Shove * Tek Dat * 'Lude 1 * Prisoner Of Love * The Ronnie * Daydreamin' * Comin' On Strong * You And I * Beautiful * The Region * Gimme Little Sign * 'Lude 2 * The Spins * Live On

© 2000 - Shaun Dale