Jaya the Cat

Jaya the Cat
Singer Geoff Lagadec live in 2014
Background information
Origin	Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Genres	Reggae, Ska, Punk Rock
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Bomber Music, Ring of Fire, I Hate People, I Scream, Music Machine, 4tune, Gold Circle
Associated acts	Shadows Fall Green Lizard Wealthy Beggar Mark Foggo Cultura Tres Ragged Old Flag Complicated Men Of Leisure Mr Shiraz Tropical Contact
Website	Jaya the Cat
Members	Geoff Lagadec David "The Germ" Germain Jan Jaap "Jay" Onverwagt Dino Memic Karl Smith
Past members	Ben Murphy Dave Smith Hugh Brockmyre JJ O'Connell Alejandro Londoño Brian Tjon Ajong Jordi Newcastle Steven Brautigam Jeroen Kok Daniel Peper Johan "Leon" van 't Zand

Jaya The Cat is a Dutch/American reggae/ska/punk rock band originating from Boston, Massachusetts (US), currently based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The band formed in 1998 and has released four full-length studio albums, one independent release and one live album.

Jaya The Cat was founded in the late 1990s by Geoff Lagadec (vocals/guitar), Dave Smith (guitar/vocals), Hugh Brockmyre (drums) and Ben Murphy (bass/vocals) in Boston, Massachusetts. Their first recording "O'Farrell" was an independent release that gained much attention and got them their first record deal on Gold Circle Records. Their first major release album Basement Style was recorded at Slaughterhouse studios in Amherst, Massachusetts with studio drummer and longtime friend of Murphy's JJ O'Connell. It was received well among critics and fans and gained attention in the northeast and southwest of the United States, but really began to pick up steam in Europe. After drummer David "The Germ" Germain (formerly with Shadows Fall) joined the band they began touring the US on the Vans Warped Tour and Europe.

In 2001 the band arrived in the Netherlands to play the Lowlands Festival, and in 2003 they recorded a live album, Ernesto’s Burning. After the release of the second studio album First Beer of a New Day, Dave Smith (guitar) and Ben Murphy (bass) quit the band. Shortly afterwards, Smith and Murphy formed the American rock/punk/country band Ragged Old Flag. The remaining members of Jaya the Cat decided to move to Amsterdam where they teamed up with Jan Jaap "Jay" Onverwagt (bass, ex-Green Lizard) and Alejandro Londoño (guitar, Cultura Tres) to continue their efforts from Europe. In 2005, Brian Tjon Ajong (guitar, also ex-Green Lizard) joined the band to replace Londoño. Shortly after, Jordi Nieuwenburg replaced Tjon Ajong on guitar and Onverwagt, who had moved on to play keyboards for the band, was replaced by Steven Brautigam on bass.