Toledo Idol: Hepcat Revival

PERRYSBURG - Hepcat Revival is a seven-piece swing and jump blues band who is posed in bringing back the big band and swing style to the Toledo area.

They're goal is to keep making live music fun.

It's the type of music that will put you in a good mood - thinking of a different era music.

The cool cats of Hepcat Revival, who have been around for more than a decade, make sure they give their audiences the whole package, especially when they dress up and use that old style microphone.

"This is great because you can play a variety of music, you can really get the folks involved and get them up dancing to things they may not have heard before, styles they may not have heard before - and they have a lot of fun," said Greg Tye, lead singer and bandleader.

Although big band and swing had its revival in the 1990s, the genre's popularity doesn't matter to the band. They love the music and play it day in and day out.

"In the late 90's the whole swing movement kind of kicked into gear again, and when we got into it, it was the very end when it kind of crashed and burned," Tye said. "I enjoy the music we play, but I also really like the guys I'm playing with. You get a group of guys together and they work towards a common goal."

"If it works, and the personalities click and you get some success and stay busy, everything works out."

Guitarist Ken Zuercher is glad that Hepcat Revival has worked out well, especially for his sanity.

"If I didn't play music, I'd be difficult to live with - if not impossible," he said.

Zuercher added he's lucky to be in the band because he loves to travel and perform. Hepcat does anything from weddings to dances in Cleveland.

"They still have swing dances and rent halls," he said. "People show up all dressed up like old movies. It's really fun."

And these guys don't plan on stopping the swing anytime soon.