Live Shows: Hepcat, The New Limits, and Pink Slip, Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA 4/12/26

Hepcat are one of those legendary bands I've been meaning to see for a while. To be honest, I wasn't intimately familiar with the band's catalog, but they are ska legends, and I'm currently going through my midlife crisis second ska phase. When I saw they were playing the Paradise Sunday night, I knew it was my chance. The fact that The New Limits and Pink Slip, two of my favorite local ska bands, were opening only made it more tempting.

Hepcat are legends for a simple reason, and that reason is that they are great. They're closer to the first wave of 60's ska than what you typically think of with bands from the 80's and 90's. It was upbeat hit after upbeat hit. All their songs are impossibly dance friendly even if they can be a bit laid back. They had the Sunday night older crowd participating in a dance party for their entire set, which is never an easy feat. It's easy to forget just how many great songs a band like Hepcat have since they never truly had any huge hit songs, but tracks like "Dance Wid' Me" and "I Can't Wait" simply can't be beat. If you were at the show and you weren't moving throughout, you may not have a soul. Even with some early keyboard related technical issues, Hepcat put on one of the best shows of the year. Ska has always felt like summertime music to me, and this show might have been what is finally bringing New England some actual spring weather this week.

Opening the show was Boston's own Pink Slip. They fit more into the ska punk category, and I was thrilled to get the chance to see them. They were a great choice to kick off the night, since their style immediately grabs you. It was a high energy set that quickly won over the crowd. It didn't hurt that they included a cover of 4 Non Blonde's iconic "What's Up?," which obviously got the crowd fully invested and singing along. Ska covers are kind of a cliche, but who cares when they're this fun?

Playing next was The New Limits, who, as always, put on a great show. They represent the more soulful end of ska, and kept the upbeat dance party going strong. Songs like "Entitled" and "These are the Nights" are irresistible for any ska fan, and they kept the crowd moving. Their cover song of the night was a rendition of Shocking Blue's "Venus," which they nailed and got a sing-a-long going strong. If you're in the "Ska's Not Dead" category and didn't make it to the Paradise Sunday night, you truly missed out.