Meet The Band!

      Joe was born in the Bronx, NY. Ever since he saw the Beatles on TV as a young child he would sing "She Loves You Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!" with his toy guitar while standing on the kitchen table. It only stood to reason that he would try to emulate one of them and Paul definitely was the one.

      As a teenager his first bass was a violin style fiddle bass and the rest was history. His favorite bass stylings were McCartney and Entwistle - obviously out of the James Jamerson / Motown school of influence.

      Joe's favorite musical styles are Heavy R & B, Funk and Classic Rock. Can you say Sly & the Family Stone meets AC/DC? He played in bands during high school and gigged around the Tri-state area as a Senior and into college. Early bands included the Joe Pop Blues Band, Mama Gin, and Spectra, who did an AC/DC tribute. Latter day bands included the New Man Band, Backlash and Vin Noveau. Joe gives back to the community through music with the band Vin Noveau, reaching out to homeless and disadvantaged youth through local churches. Joe adds "Remember, if you can't feel the bass you ain't dancing!"

      Joe also records with "The Joe Pop Band". They have recently finished their new cd "They Call Me Pop". Check them out at JoePopToons.com

Joe’s gear:

      Kern IP-777 tube pre-amp with and Alembic Superfilter in the effects loop. Powerd by a Crown XTI-2000 power amp run into 2 Avatar 2x10 containing Eminence Deltalite Neodynium speakers with a foster horn.

      Joe plays His own Joe Ferrara brand hand-built basses, usually loaded with 2 Seymour Duncan ceramic musicman pickups with Series/parallel/tapped wiring on each. Onboard electronics usually by Aguilar or Duncan. Sold exclusively at Stevie B’s Total Guitar.

Effects:

      Mostly my hands

      When needed:

• Mooger Fooger and Qtron Plus Envelope filters
• Voodoo Labs chorus
• Maxon Analog delay
• Prescription electronics Depth Charge
• Bullet coiled cables by CoreOne

      Born in the Mississippi Delta in the late 50's, it would seem that his musical destiny was headed for Rhythm & Blues. His musical "roots" ran deep through his family tree, getting his first taste of R&B from his Uncle Bill who was a blues guitarists and singer! From a very young age, Steve knew that playing the drums would be an intricate part of his life.

      He started his musical journey at the age of 12, when he received his first drum. After landing in Central Florida in 1973 he got his first ful drumset at the age of 14 and his life was changed forever! Among some of his early influences were Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham, John Bonham and Keith Moon.

      During the late 60's and early 70's when the "Funkadelic" era began to take chape with artists like George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Sly Stone and James Brown he became hooked on that "Funky Soul". After being introduced to bands like the Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Who, along with that "Motown Sound", his style was defined and earned him the nickname "Funk Blaster".

      He started his musical career at the age of 17 playing in local Central Florida clubs and Coffee Houses. Some of the bands he performed with include "Hot Steam", "Stevie & The Medflys", "Shogun", "Tovanaar" and "The Southern Fury Band". After playing Clubs and Concerts across the southeast he landed the job with the Hipper Bad Cat Band in February of 2008.

      Steve's equipment includes Gretsch Maple Renown drums, Evans heads, Zildjian and Sabian cymbals, DW pedals, Gibralter hardware, Shure and Audix mics and RoadRunner cases.

      The 'G-man' hails from West Lafayette, Indiana by way of Gainesville, Florida. After seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show at age 5 he knew what he wanted to do with his life. He started out playing the piano by ear and singing songs by the Beatles, Beach Boys, CCR et al. At the age of 12 he started playing drums, and at 14 began playing the guitar.

      In the mid 1970's he formed his first band while still in High School, and has been a professional musician off and on ever since. He was a founding member of Tampa's well-known local favorites "Rocky Ruckman & The Beat Heathens" (as a drummer), as well as playing keyboards and guitar with "The Rowdy Pups".

      Blessed with a god-given talent for learning instruments and an amazing ear for picking up tunes, he proceeded to devote his life to playing, writing and recording music. From Blues to Rock to Jazz to Country and even Techno, he has a wide ranging taste and a deep appreciation for many musical genres.

      His influences are many but he cites Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Johnson, Ian Stewart, Nicky Hopkins, Reese Wynans and Chuck Leavell as his favorites. He also is inspired by the virtuosity of Bill Payne (Little Feat), Billy Powell (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Rick Wakeman (Yes), Richard Wright (Pink Floyd), and Greg Hawkes (The Cars)

      Gman says "I am a firm believer that a band must put on a show, not just get on stage and play the songs. I always wanted to be a part of a group that knows that they must be more than just a 'human jukebox', and I strive to find that elusive spark the makes each gig a bit of magic for the fans. Hipper Bad Cat is the perfect vehicle for me because we are all accomplished musicians as well as friends, so we can relax, get loose and give the audience a rockin' good time!"

Gregorio’s gear:

      Roland Fantom-S Synthesizer

      Korg CX-3 v2 Digital Organ

      Shure Beta87 Mic

      Born and raised in the Steel City of Pittsburgh, Pa., Dave started playing and listening to music at an early age. Receiving his 1st guitar and amp at age 12 (Thanks Mom!) he has performed in various band in both the "Burgh" and locally here in Florida. Although he enjoys many styles of music and guitar players he cites Keith Richards, the Reverend Billy Gibbons and Soul Man Steve Cropper as his main influences. He also has respect for Pittsburgh legends Norman Nardini and Warren King and local Tampa Bay area favorites George Harris, Damon Fowler, Jimmy Griswold, Doc Lovett, Molten Mike, and the late great Ronnie Garvin. Favorite Bands include the Rolling Stones, the Black Crowes, Reverend Horton Heat, The New York Dolls, Motown’s Funk Brothers, Humble Pie, Cheap Trick, the Stray Cats and local bay area favorites the Edison’s and the Mojo Guru’s.

      Triple D’s gear set up includes playing Gretsch, Fender, or Gibson guitars strung with D’Addario strings pumped through Hughes & Kettner or Doctor Z amps with minimal effect pedals.

      Dave states "Playing in Hipper Bad Cat is a blast! The guys really enjoy the interaction we have with our audience. We always want to give the crowd a great night out and for them to really enjoy themselves." Dave also wants to add "THANKS to our families, friends and to all of the great fans of the band! Dave also wants to say THANKS to everyone at STEVIE B’S TOTAL GUITAR in Clearwater Florida.

      Born in Detroit, Sammy was raised on a steady diet of Motown and local bands like the MC5, the Stooges and Alice Cooper. He got his first guitar at age 13, and played his first gig at 14 years old. As he grew up, he was heavily influenced by the Rolling Stones. Later, other players such as Mike Campbell and Dave Edmunds found their way into his style . If you combine all the above elements, you get the idea of the musical palette he draws from.

      Previous bands he has played in include Detroit's “Tommy Gunn And The Lineup”, the L.A. band “The Blame”, and Florida's own “Rockhound,” along with stops in Las Vegas and Charleston, S.C.

      “For me, it's all about entertaining the audience. Nothing beats laying down a good groove, and watching the crowd dance and sing along with us,” says Sammy.

      Gear includes a number of Telecaster's, G&L's and others. The Boss GT-6 is his effects pedal board of choice, along with the all-tube Carvin Bel-Air amplifier.