| |
pepper
|
Pepper
Although Pepper's members are originally from Kona, HI, the trio doesn't
play traditional Hawaiian music. Rather, Pepper's music is a melodic
and accessible blend of alternative pop/rock, punk, and reggae. Formed
in 1996, Pepper is hardly the only alterna-rock combo that has been
inspired by Jamaican sounds. But while other punk-minded alternative
pop-rockers who emerged in the '90s were greatly influenced by either
classic '60s ska or hardcore dancehall artists like Stitchie, Ninjaman,
and Bounty Killer, Pepper usually gets more inspiration from '70s
and early '80s reggae, Pepper's sound could be described as the Police
meets Steel Pulse meets punk-pop. It isn't hard to see the parallels
between a Pepper song like "The Good Thing" and Police hits
such as "Roxanne" and "Don't Stand So Close to Me,"
but while Sting and his colleagues sounded polished, Pepper tends
to favor a rawer, more rugged approach. Two of Pepper's three members
started working together in 1996; that was when singer/guitarist Kaleo
Wassman first joined forces with bassist/singer Bret Bollinger. After
going through quite a few drummers in the '90s, Pepper decided that
Yesod Williams was the best man for the job. With the Wassman/Bollinger/Williams
lineup in place, Pepper left Hawaii for Los Angeles and went on to
be an opening act for shows by Burning Spear, Shaggy, Eek-A-Mouse,
Pato Banton, and other major reggae artists. Pepper first entered
the studio in 1997 to record a seven-song demo. But by 1999, the trio
was signed to the independent, L.A.-based Volcom Entertainment. Pepper's
songs appeared on various Volcom compilations, including 1999 Summer
Sampler and The Early Poems of Volcom Entertainment. The threesome's'
first full-length album, Give N' It, was released by Volcom in 2000.
The following year, Pepper produced a sophomore album, Kona Town,
with Steve Kravac (who has worked with blink-182, Youth Brigade, Guttermouth,
Less Than Jake, and other alternative rockers). Volcom released Kona
Town in 2002.
- Alex Henderson
|
| TOUR DATES |
| Find out when Pepper
will be in your city. |
| C.R.A.S. RELEASES |
|
|
|
|
|
