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Raul Talavera

@ralomassage

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🎉 Happy SKA-nniversary!🎉 😸

Today marks the 36th anniversary of Hepcat’s very first LA show, in 1990, opening for The Toasters at the infamous Country Club in Reseda. We hit the stage right at 8PM as the doors opened. As our drummer @leftylimbo recalls:

“I remember counting off Exodus as soon as the doors opened. I could see people coming in, but I wasn’t sure how the crowd would react to us. It was our first real show in our hometown, out of the comfort of impromptu backyard party shows that some people knew us from. It was also a slower, swingier traditional ‘60s ska tune, molasses syrup compared to the frantic tempo of modern ska arrangements. I saw a few people come right up to the front of the stage with curious glances, then eventually nodding in acknowledgement and getting into the rhythm. It wasn’t more than a dozen people, but I knew at that point that we’d made some fans.”

This original show flyer art (also by @leftylimbo) also presented the debut of what would become the official Hepcat mascot; an icon that would find its way onto flyers, patches, stickers, and even tattoos of loyal fans throughout our career.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all for your undying love and support over all these years. Without you we would have never made it this far. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️🍻

And now the big question: Who was at this show, and what do you remember from it? Tell us in the comments below!

#1990 #skashows #skaflyers #showflyers

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Happy New Year everyone. Hope you all had a great night and are enjoying yourselves today. Ringing in the new year with a reissue of an old favorite and a dub version of said favorite.

#ska #skamusic #traditionalska #tradska #bluebeat #rocksteady #reggae #rootsreggae #skinheadreggae #earlyreggae #tradskin #traditionalskinhead #jamaicanska #rudeboys #rudegirls #skascene #skafans #modscene #modettes #skasubcultures #laska #losangelesska #hepcat #hepcatforever #gregleeforever #greglee #scientistdub #trustrecords #hepcatscientific #dubreggae

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Since moving from Cali, I’ve only lived in Brooklyn. I dig spending time in the other borough’s but I’m not fluent in Queens, not yet. There I was in Jackson Heights, freezing my nuts off, waiting to meet up w a friend w no particular place to go. I google a place that’s near and sells a pint. I find a cafe (Espresso 77, ggl says it’s permanently closed, it’s not) and honestly I could care less because it’s cold and I’m thirsty. So I head over and share coordinates. Place is full of locals relaxing and enjoying their weekend. Some sip lattes, others like myself, enjoy pilsner. In the corner is a cat fixing his kit. Can’t tell if he just got done playing or’s setting up. Not really taking notes just enjoying the warmth of space and the taste of my brew. Now a big cat walks in w his axe across his back and another cat takes his trumpet and lays it on the table in front of him. Ok cool there will be live tunes. I’m up for it and maybe my friend will be too. The band starts playing some heartfelt bluesy tunes and one can tell they’re tight. They cruise thru their set and suddenly they do an unexpected (to me) tune. That’s when I begin filming. They belted out a Jamaican tune from the late 50’s and explained how little is known of this era of music and singers. As the brother explained, some singers back then would come to the city (Kingston) just to record vocals and then go back to the countryside. I’d be lying if I told you I knew the tune they sang but for some reason I felt like I heard it before. If you grew up listening to JA music it will sound familiar. I immediately thought of my teenage buds/bandmates Greg & Alex, Six & Seven if you knew. I could see them enjoying this tune as much as I was. I couldn’t stay for the bands second set but nonetheless I efficiently gave them their props, as one always should. I left shaking my head in a good way because this place called NYC can be so crazy and unpredictable 24/7/365. And it is so easy to forget the magic this place is. For some reason, I found myself enjoying the beautiful music of my youth. For this I’m grateful and happy to share. ✌🏽

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Hepcat at the Warped Tour in Salt Lake City in 2000.

Huge thank you to @burn_a_fire for sharing this awesome photo with us!

#ska #skamusic #traditionalska #tradska #bluebeat #rocksteady #reggae #rootsreggae #skinheadreggae #earlyreggae #tradskin #traditionalskinhead #jamaicanska #rudeboys #rudegirls #skascene #skafans #modscene #modettes #skasubcultures #laska #losangelesska #hepcat #hepcatska #ripgreglee #greglee

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Another early live Hepcat photo Greg Lee graciously sent us to post a few years ago.
Circa roughly 1990.
One of a kind. ❤️

#ska #skamusic #traditionalska #tradska #bluebeat #rocksteady #reggae #rootsreggae #skinheadreggae #earlyreggae #tradskin #traditionalskinhead #jamaicanska #rudeboys #rudegirls #skascene #skafans #modscene #modettes #skasubcultures #laska #losangelesska #hepcat #hepcatband #hepcatska #greglee #alexdesert #ripgreglee #gregleerip

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Some early Hepcat days! Circa 1990 or 1991 at the Whisky A Go Go.

❤️

Huge thank you to @hypodorian who played that night with Lucky 7! Thanks for sharing these photos!

#ska #skamusic #traditionalska #tradska #bluebeat #rocksteady #reggae #rootsreggae #skinheadreggae #earlyreggae #tradskin #traditionalskinhead #jamaicanska #rudeboys #rudegirls #skascene #skafans #modscene #modettes #skasubcultures #laska #losangelesska #hepcat #hepcatband #hepcatska #greglee #alexdesert #ripgreglee #gregleerip

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This is really difficult. It's taken a few days to process and figure out what to say. Greg Lee was a good friend of a few of The Cover-Ups. Nessa, who is our 2nd generation Cover-Up (and og Twi-Liter) dated Greg for years when they were teenagers/early 20 something's. Cris was "adopted" by Nessa and Greg in 1988 pre-Hepcat and brought into the world of ska, skinhead culture, reggae, scooters, hangouts, parties and shows. Gina was in the all girl ska band, The Shanties in the 90s and met him way back then. When Cris and Mini formed The Cover-Ups, we kind of modeled the band after Hepcat's instrumentation - the love of the 2 lead vocalists and horn harmonies. We looked up to them! The history of our personal friendships and band friendships go back decades. We are all devastated and profoundly sad by the passing of Greg Lee. We loved him dearly. Thank you for your light and joy and for the music you have shared with us. 🕴🏻💃🏻❤️💔

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Still finding myself reeling from the passing of Greg Lee. It’s created a noticeable hole in the world. How are you all feeling?

Here is a BAM magazine cover feature on Hepcat from 1998. Happier times indeed!

#ska #skamusic #traditionalska #tradska #bluebeat #rocksteady #reggae #rootsreggae #skinheadreggae #earlyreggae #tradskin #traditionalskinhead #jamaicanska #rudeboys #rudegirls #skascene #skafans #modscene #modettes #skasubcultures #laska #losangelesska #hepcat #hepcatband #hepcatska #greglee #alexdesert #ripgreglee #gregleerip

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Hepcat live around 1990.

Massive thank you to @gregro01 for sending us this awesome photo!

#ska #skamusic #traditionalska #tradska #bluebeat #rocksteady #reggae #rootsreggae #skinheadreggae #earlyreggae #tradskin #traditionalskinhead #jamaicanska #rudeboys #rudegirls #skascene #skafans #modscene #modettes #skasubcultures #laska #losangelesska #hepcat #hepcatska #liveska #skashow

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Hepcat performing in La Puente, CA in the early ‘90s. The Specs and Better Than Nothing also played on this show.

Massive thanks to @reporter.arce for sharing these classic photos of L.A.’s best!

#hepcat #ska #rocksteady #reggae #reggaegotsoul #authenticska #laska #rudies #rudeboys #rudegirls #mods #skinheads #skascene #americanska #soul #historyoflaska #rockeryradio

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Hepcat in the late 90s.

Huge thanks to @gregro01 for sharing this awesome photo with us!

#ska #skamusic #traditionalska #tradska #bluebeat #rocksteady #reggae #rootsreggae #skinheadreggae #earlyreggae #tradskin #traditionalskinhead #jamaicanska #rudeboys #rudegirls #skascene #skafans #modscene #modettes #skasubcultures #laska #losangelesska #hepcat #hepcatska #hepcatband #greglee #skafans

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