Hepcat Dilemma Back in the Studio

After numerous delays, Hepcat Dilemma returned to Hollywood Studios in Dormont on Sunday to
resume work on the new album. The band spent the afternoon with producer Matt Vaughan tracking
four new songs for the follow up to the critically acclaimed “Art Imitates Life”. A spokesman for the band said that they were thrilled with the results and would be returning soon to continue working on the songs.

Along with “The Romper Room” and “In the Court of Popson Johnson”, which have highlighted the live set for the past couple of years the band recorded “Wordwar” and “Things No Way” which saw their live debut just a couple weeks earlier when Hepcat Dilemma performed at Pittsburgh’s Deutschtown Festival and the band was itching to strike while the iron was hot. “The songs were screaming to be recorded,” said guitarist Bob Loiselle. “They’ve been exploding out of the speakers at practice and we needed to get them recorded while they were still on fire.”
Hapcat Dilemma started work on the album soon after “Art Imitates Life” hit the streets but have been plagued by delays caused by the pandemic and various health problems. But with these issues finally behind them Hepcat can feel the momentum building. “It’s been a trying couple of years,” says Bob, “but now we can clearly see where we’re heading and the best is yet to come.”
With several more songs slated to be recorded later in the year, the band will be in the studio through much of the winter and plan to have the new album ready to be released next year.

Hepcat Dilemma Returns to the Stage at Deutschtown Festival

After a break of well over two years, Hepcat Dilemma finally made their long-awaited return to the stage when they performed at Pittsburgh’s Deutschtown Music Festival on Friday. The Music Festival featured over 400 bands performing at 40 venues on Pittsburgh’s North Side over 3 days and with near perfect summer weather was a smashing success.

Hepcat Dilemma took the stage at Pittsburgh City Brewing after a beautiful set by Old Game. It took a couple of songs to shake of the rust but by the third song of the set the band had found their stride and played a powerful set that literally brought the ceiling down. Yes….it was loud! Several brand new songs were debuted as over half the set featured new material that will be on their next record.

After starting the set with a couple songs from their acclaimed album “Art Imitates Life”, the new songs sizzled and exploded into life. A stunning “Wordwar” was unveiled and gave way to the intricate “Miss Jane Takes a Trip”. After crowd favorites “The Slide” and “Persian Monkey Treatment” the band premiered a force of nature called “Things No Way” which was the highpoint of the set. By the time the band closed their set with a crazed version of “The Romper Room” we were amazed that anyone was left standing.

The band thanks Allegheny City Brewing for their hospitality and kudos to Damien for the making
everything sound right.

Next week Hepcat Dilemma will be returning to the Hollywood Studios in Dormont to resume work on the new album with long-time producer Matt Vaughan!

Setlist:
Cowboy Song
The Chauffeur Will Have the Last Word
Wordwar (live debut)
Miss Jane Takes a Trip (live debut)
In the Court of Popson Johnson
The Slide
Persian Monkey Treatment
Things No Way (live debut)
Cincinnati
Milty Henk’s Immortality
Bouncy Song
The Romper Room

It was thirty years ago that Hepcat Dilemma took their first steps. The previous months had seen the seeds sewn but so far there had been no musical harvest. Finally, in April 1992 the initial rehearsals took place that would in just a few months lead to the beginning of Hepcat Dilemma.

It was all to rise from the ashes of the legendary Pittsburgh band Special Ed. The art-punk trio had spent nearly a decade creating some of the most original music to come out of the Steel City. But after 5 albums they found themselves once again without a drummer and with a rock opera, “His Touch” which would sadly remain unrecorded.

Special Ed bassist, Bob Loiselle was restless and with Sped’s future uncertain he looked to form a new group. The first attempt was to gather a motley collection of friends to form the six-piece Rich’s Army with Bob on keyboards and Sped lighting director Chuck McPherson on bass. This lasted two rehearsals as Bob pulled the plug. “My friend Don was going to sing and write the lyrics,” he recalled a couple years later. “Don was a great guy but I thought his lyrics were just embarrassing. I couldn’t believe how much I hated them!”

So when it was time for another attempt this unruly menagerie was trimmed down considerably and
just Bob and Chuck remained. “At first we weren’t sure what we were going to do. The only thing we knew for sure was that I would try to write the lyrics,” remembered Bob with a laugh. “I asked Chuck if he wanted to play guitar or bass. He took bass so I became the guitar player. I didn’t even own an electric guitar so I used Chuck’s.”

In April 1992 the duo began to write songs and rehearse. The first song was a forgettable number called “Confluence” but the second song written was “Drought” which became the first classic Hepcat Dilemma song and stayed in the set for years. Chuck wrote a song which became “Hideous Head”, their tongue in cheek tribute to Ted Kennedy and they were on a roll. The songs came quickly and they found they were becoming a band. But a band that needed a drummer.

Chuck brought in his friend Brett Amond and the embryonic Hepcat Dilemma was in place. Aside from a brief appearance on an Open Stage the original line-up never played a show but Bob is adamant there would be no Hepcat Dilemma without Brett. “Brett was vital to the band’s development. He hadn’t become an accomplished drummer yet but we were finding our feet on our instruments as well. We grew together….and had a great time!”

The original line-up stayed together for a year. They named the band and recorded “Frame Off Mind” which Bob describes as being “something between an album and a demo” which has never been
released. But most importantly the original three established the band as something that was worth doing. After a year Brett had to leave for personal reasons and the band found Byron Glatz to replace him and Hepcat Dilemma finally got out of the starting gate.

But it all started on chilly April nights in Bob’s basement thirty years ago.

The unfortunate events of the last year and a half have made changes in just about everybody’s plans. This rings true for Hepcat Dilemma. Just as their great new album, “Art Imitates Life” was released at the end of 2019 the world came to a halt. Shows were cancelled along with the ability to properly promote the album. Plans to start recording a follow-up album were scuttled after just one session and the band searched for safe ways to move forward.

The summer of 2020 found Hepcat Dilemma rehearsing in the backyard of the Farm. While not ideal practicing conditions the band made the best of the situation. With the summer sun blazing overhead, the band worked on developing new material playing acoustically, barefoot on the grass.

As the calendar pages flipped and the colder weather approached, the band moved to Fiasco, the former school turned art colony where Chris had relocated to. Setting up on the former stage the band found a new home and new songs continued to emerge. After months of acoustic practicing, it was a relief to play loud again. The “roar” returned.

While currently on a short break, we catch up with Chris, who provides a little insight into the band’s recent activities. “The rehearsals we’ve been able to have been fantastic,” says Chris. “The new album is coming together beautifully.” As to practicing on the stage at Fiasco: “It’s been neat to sus out our sound in an actual venue.” The band reportedly has over a dozen new songs that are being readied for the new album and Chris is excited to bringing them to life. “Some of the lyrics are really hitting home for me. It makes it easier to emote and truly own a song when the lyrics are so relatable.” Among the new tracks are titles like “Bouncy Song”, “Bender Watch”, “Romper Room”, “Kukla, Fran and Oliver” and “In the Court of Popson Johnson”. Chris says these songs are “some of the best work I’ve ever been involved with.”

Work has already commenced on the new album with the basic tracks of three songs being recorded shortly before the Lockdown began. After months of delay the band returned to the studio in June and resumed work. Once again the mixing board is manned by their longtime producer Matt Vaughan who Chris calls the band’s “personal George Martin. He’s a genius. I’m not interested in working with any other producers any time soon.”

The band plans on getting back to work on the new album as soon as possible. Chris, for one, can’t wait. “We’ve got three songs that are currently in the mixing phase. I’m listening to them over and over tryna figure out if and where and what the harmonies need to be. I can take my time and compose harmonies in the car, no pressure and no witnesses when I sound awful!”

As to when the band may be performing again: “That depends on this crazy world we live in. Best case, I’d imagine we could hit the boards by this winter some time.” Hepcat Dilemma will resume rehearsing over Labor Day Weekend and more sessions should follow quickly. “We’ve got a few curveballs coming,” says Chris with a wry smile. “Expect the unexpected.”

July 13, 1996 – E Hood Plays First Show With Hepcat Dilemma

When Hepcat Dilemma took the stage at the Graffiti on July 13, 1996 a special guest was along side. E Hood had been the bands greatest friend and “biggest fan” for three years, attending nearly every rehearsal and show and on that summer night E performed with the band in a ambitious set that included several new songs and the use of keyboards onstage for the first time. Hepcat Dilemma had been rehearsing as a four-piece for several weeks with E playing assorted percussion, congas and whatever he could get his hands on joining drummer Byron Glatz in a madcap percussive assault. While E was officially a guest and didn’t join the band for another month he has played at every show since.
From Bob’s journal…

…The first band was off quickly and we started to bring our gear on stage. For all the stuff we brought it went pretty fast and Jeff (the Graffiti sound man) told us to take our time. Got a decent sound check on the keyboards and we could hear them pretty good through the monitors. We set them up on the far left of the stage and put E between me and Chuck. It was a lot more cramped than usual but nothing we couldn’t deal with. I was still tuning and Chuck was out at the bar when Jeff announced us but there was no point in rushing. When we were ready we started to play.

Loving Cycle
– after this song Byron ran over to the sound intern who was working the monitor mix and requested a few adjustments – less bass, more vocals and guitar. The sound on stage was never particularly good. We heard most of the vocals from the main speakers.
Ahoy Mr. Page
The Gift of Slab
Reality Bringdown
– these all went well and we were rolling along. Chuck got a little out of sync on “Slab” but it was hardly noticeable.
Ethiopia
– our “untitled” keyboard improv. The transition went smoothly and the piece went very well. Our first appearance with a keyboard since Sam’s Jam three years ago. Wound down and went directly into…
Chance Meeting
– live debut. Sounded very good. Gentle but strong. Right into…
Hawaii Five-O
– another live first. Three in a row. “Five-O” was great – it rocked and was hilarious. Right into…
The You Must Forget Before You Remember Blues
– our first actual pause since after “Slab”. I felt we were playing with great confidence.
Milty Henk’s Immortality
Unlikely Candid Date
Appomattox
– final keyboard piece of the night though not by choice. The intern tells me “Last song” so I look at Jeff and ask if we can play two. He says okay so I grab the guitar and we leave “Sam’s Middle Name” for another night.
Magic Bullet Theory
– I thoroughly botch the intro and fall hopelessly out of sync. Byron’s just back there shaking his head. We play through it. I make some noise and it slows to a halt and then “…one, two, three, four!” and we’re back into it. It never gained the power that it usually had but disaster was avoided.
The Hot Seat

It was over and we began to unplug amidst a splattering of semi-enthusiastic applause. I was feeling very good despite what was obviously a disappointing turnout…. As for E, he was a star. His allsorts sounded great and came through out front though I was told the conga didn’t come out as well. But E was great even when he wasn’t playing. Doing the yo-yo, reading a newspaper and playing jacks behind Chuck, nearly tripping him. Everyone loved him and they should have….

A month later, after watching King Crimson perform at the HORDE Festival E joined the band. Soon afterwards he was interviewed by the Hepcat Dilemma newsletter “Dreaming Through Life”…

DTL: How did you get yourself into this situation?
E: I was downstairs hearing “Loving Cycle” when someone touched me. At first I thought it was Blanche but it was much too special. From the ceiling it smothered the room with an energy that made me went to stick my fingers in my mouth. I came back week after week for the next three years always searching for an answer. The cowboy from the Village People came to me in a dream and told me I was the answer.
DTL: What did you add to the mix?
E: A dynamic sense of gick. In the form of touching others expendable energy is a useful thing. It’s like everybody’s got a raincoat on.
DTL: After all these years what’s it like to play with Hepcat?
E; It makes me feel sassy, almost as if I’ve been bad. This is my punishment. Oh, shit.
DTL: Tell us about your last band.
E: In my senior or junior year of high school I met up with a bunch of blokes and we called ourselves Mistaken. What a bloody mess and a bunch of fudge. We did a Blue Murder tune. It was pretty sick. We did “Seventeen” by Kip Winger. It’s no wonder I wish I was a girl. There were four of us. We broke up because of musical difference. I wanted to be a hip-hop star.
DTL: What are your musical influences?
E: First and foremost my father because he’s such a goddamn man. Mike Jackson for the way he breaks me down…makes me feel weak. King Crimson. Bon Jovi…we’re really getting into this now aren’t we…
DTL: What’s going on inside your head?
E: More of that fudge. It reminds me of the big Indian from “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest”…or was that the Village People? Are they related?
DTL: What are your musical goals?
E: To be the best I can be. To achieve a freedom like the wind and be the next Dorothy Hammill. I don’t like to be modest. Like the Ange says, “This is for real, for real.” Funk.
DTL: Anything else you’d like to tell Hepcat fans?
E: Be prepared for a jaw-droppin’ hairbrush spankin’ like mama used to give.
DTL: Who’s the best golfer in the band?
E: Fifi that little slut. God, I love him.

“Pittsburgh’s dark and heavy hard rockin’ power trio, Hepcat Dilemma, is here with a debut LP, and from the first spin, this scribe can only describe it as interesting and great! While those operative terms may come across as offering backhanded compliments, I can assure you – it’s not.”

And so begins Bryan Swirsky’s review of ‘Art Imitates Life‘ in the 40th Anniversary issue of the prestigious music magazine The Big Takeover.

Bryan continues: ” The ideas this band are playing with are the same kinds of ideas bands such as Bomb, Victims Family, No Means No, and maybe even ZZ Top, Budgie and Blue Cheer were throughout the course of their respective careers. Loose play with time and space and loads of crisscrossing hard rhythms abound on this slab, and the end results simply smoke! That there are roots to the long lamented oddball lo-fi punk band Special Ed, just makes this all the more special. I love this!”

With the pandemic still on everyone’s mind there is no news stand magazine copy of this issue. You can only get the latest issue of Big Takeover directly from them by clicking HERE.

Hepcat Dilemma on Hold

The coronavirus seems to have put the whole world on hold and Hepcat Dilemma is no exception. The band was scheduled to play at the release show for Neostem’s new album “Return to Sender” this Saturday at the Thompson Athletic Club in Homestead but that show has been postponed. “The
unprecedented events of the past week remind us that there are more important things in life than Music,” said Rat on a Stick Records spokesman Oscar Flood. “In times like these we must think first of the health and safety of our friends and families.” No definitive decision has been made regarding the bands appearance on WRCT-FM in April.

Hepcat Dilemma has already started to record the follow up to their critically acclaimed album “Art Imitates Life” and vows to complete the work. “When the time is right we’ll be back on stage and in the studio,” commented guitarist Bob Loiselle.

Hepcat Dilemma Play First Show of 2020

Hepcat Dilemma returned to the stage on Saturday, kicking off what should be a busy year. The band appeared on a bill with the Neverweres and Gutter Rich at Pittsburgh’s Club Café and delivered a powerful set that featured songs from their critically acclaimed album “Art Imitates Life” and even a few brand new songs before a receptive crowd.

The band kicked things off with a rocking “Persian Monkey Treatment’ and the intensity never wavered throughout their forty-five minute set. Hepcat debuted a brand new song “In the Court of Popson Johnson” and concluded with an amazing version of “Three Fingers Left” before encoring with a rocking “Milty Henk’s Immortality” that had everyone on their feet. Full set list below.

Next up for Hepcat Dilemma will be a performance at the Thompson Athletic Club in Homestead on
March 21 st when they play with good friends Neostem who will be releasing their new album “Return to Sender”.

Setlist:
Persian Monkey Treatment
Countdown
Bouncy Song
Sky Cycle
The Chauffeur Will Have the Last Word
In the Court of Popson Johnson (premiere)
The Hepcat Motto
Unlikely Candid Date
Romper Room
Three Fingers Left
Milty Henk’s Immortality (encore)

” There is no such thing as standard prog, and Art Imitates Life by Hepcat Dilemma is a perfect example of this. “

” The nine energetic, vibrantly concise and disturbingly entertaining tracks have a feeling of The Dictators, with many psychedelic influences to be found. Cowboy Song for instance moves from slow bursts of atmospheric psychedelic Bevis Frond, through an intense build up, into an almost psychopathic Hawkwind. Countdown, a hypnotic mellow instrumental track, glides freely in similar fashion, whereas the freaky Persian Monkey Treatment, filled with rolling bass, playful drums and tight riffs, dives more into Spirit / The Doors darkness. “

So says Jan Buddenberg, in his review of the album on the Dutch Progressice Rock Page.

Click HERE to read the complete review, and make sure and check out their site as it is full of well-crafted and insightful reviews!