20 Years Ago Hepcat Dilemma Releases “Overend”

On September 19th 2002 Hepcat Dilemma celebrated the release of their third album, “Overend”. It had been seven years since “Erutangis” and the band had been through many changes during that interval. At points it appeared as if the band was finished but they re-grouped to make a terrific album. This is the story of “Overend”. It was early 2000 and things seemed to getting sketchy for Hepcat Dilemma. The five-piece version of the band that had held so much promise had come to an end. In 1996 the band had added second drummer E Hood and former Special Ed guitarist Mark Chute to the line-up of Bob Loiselle (guitar/vocals), Chuck McPherson (bass) and Byron Glatz (drums). At first it seemed as if this would be the time for Hepcat Dilemma to finally reach its full potential. But after three years the potential was unfulfilled as this line-up only managed to record one song and Mark never completely found his place in the group. By the close of 1999, he had left the band and things seemed to be stagnating. The kick in the pants came from an unexpected source. Former Elias Khrone bassist Aaron Brown was putting together a new project he was calling Voxius and asked Hepcat members Bob and Byron if they would like to be involved. After woodshedding some new songs in performance Voxius recorded the album “Psyclotomis Rex” in 2001 and their time spent in the studio was a revelation. “When the Voxius album came out, I just thought ‘Why isn’t Hepcat Dilemma recording an album?’” reflected Bob several years later. He had enjoyed the recording experience tremendously and vowed to get Hepcat in the studio. Everyone in the band was keen to get a new album recorded as they had a catalog of strong songs that needed to be committed to tape but then Bob took a left turn and pitched the idea of doing an album of all new songs. Despite a little resistance at first, it wasn’t long before a new batch of songs were being rehearsed. Early 2002 found Hepcat Dilemma recording nine brand new songs at Studio 28 in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, the same studio where Voxius had recorded “Psyclotomis Rex” the previous winter. The songs formed a loose story line of “Boy meets girl…. girl gets carted off to an insane asylum” and featured soon to be classic songs such as “Wedding Song”, “The Slide” and “Stumbling the Streets of No Regret” which are still showcased in the band’s live sets. The album was released on September 19 th 2002. On that night Hepcat Dilemma performed a release show at Nick’s Fat City on Pittsburgh’s South Side before an enthusiastic crowd. Opening up with “Loving Cycle” from 1994’s “The Bongs Are Flying” the band was firing on all cylinders from the start and put on a dynamic show. The show showcased “Overend” with a rare complete performance of the album which featured a puppet show during “Plymouth Rock and Thunder Roll”. After a powerful rendition of the Black Sabbath classic “Electric Funeral” things took a turn for the bizarre when they performed “Original Way” during which E performed a macabre “dance” with the “lovely Miss Flamingo” that got more disturbing as the song progressed. By the time Hepcat Dilemma concluded the set with a rapturous “Milty Henk’s Immortality” the crowd was on their feet and screaming. It was a triumphant night. The album received great reviews. Justin Hopper of Pittsburgh’s City Paper wrote, “’Overend’ sounds as though the band has been in cave for 25 years, missing all that’s happened in guitar rock music, yet developed it all in a bizarre parallel world” and the initial pressing of CDs quickly sold out. But the momentum they had gathered with the new album was not to last. By the following summer Hepcat Dilemma played what looked to be their final show as longtime drummer Byron Glatz announced his departure. With Chuck McPherson’s tragic passing in 2005 it would be almost ten years before their unlikely resurrection when the band found new life as Bob and E reformed the band with former Salena Catalina/Didi Mau dynamo Chris Coplo taking over bass and vocal duties. “Overend” release show setlist Nick’s Fat City, Pittsburgh PA September 19, 2002: Loving Cycle Ahoy Mr. Pge The Pilgrim and the Backwards Queen Monday Beauty in the Darkness The Moment of Perfection Wedding Song Plymouth Rock and Thunder Roll The Slide Nighty Nite Stumbling the Streets of No Regret Electric Funeral (Black Sabbath cover) Rocket Ride Original Way The Melbourne Method Milty Henk’s Immortality