Ted Bowne of Passafire- more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

Dropping my camera bag on top of the mounds of empty flight cases next to the stage, I proceeded to gear up for the night. It would be a tough shoot. Maybe the first band I could get from the floor, but by the second band I would be hosed and limited to sniping from the edge of the crowd. Antone's is always a tough shoot due to the lighting but you toss in a sold out crowd and without special help it's almost an impossible venue to work.

Standing there weighing my options, the bands started filtering in the back door and then into the dressing room, passing me. Spotting their tour manager, "Coach", I introduced myself and let him know I was there. We talked a bit about this tour and the earlier Warped tour until, eventually, Pepper's drummer, Yesod Williams, passed by and I was introduced. It turned out we had a mutual acquaintance, Skillet, frontman for the Oceanside based punk band Wanted Dead. Pepper and Wanted Dead had done the Warped tour a few years back and had really hit it off and I have known Skillet in one form or fashion for it seems like forever, so Yesod and I kind of had an instant connection.

Geoff Weers of the Expendables- more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

Yesod and I talked for quite a while about their new record label, and Passafire, one of the labels first artists. We talked about the Pepper's move to California, their friendship with Wanted Dead, and other stuff like touring. Before he headed off to get ready he invited me back after the set to meet Paul Leary (Butthole Surfers) who had shown up for their set. I had already encountered Joe "King" Carrasco (Joe "King" Carrasco & The Crowns) earlier at the door. It says a lot about a band that Austin music legends like Joe "King" and Paul show up to check out your sold out Antone's set.

Opening the show, Passafire, is a rasta/dub/rock band fronted by Ted Bowne with the brothers Kubley, Nick & Will, on drums and bass respectively and Adam Willis on keyboards. With a fairly traditional island sound
these guys are a natural to tour with Pepper and find a home on their label. They did about a 30 minute show to an almost full house and left them swaying back and forth. It was a good, tight set.

The next band, Santa Cruz, Ca. based The Expendables, is another surf-rock, rasta veteran of the Warped tour, with a bit harder edge perhaps than Passafire. That edge came mainly from the blazing fingers of Geoff Weers whose guitar stylings effortlessly transitioned from a buzzy punk to a chilled out Santana-esque lead. With Geoff joined on vocals by drummer Adam Patterson and with Ran Demars on bass and Raul Bianchi on guitar, these guys are signed to Stoopid Records and have 3 full length releases under their belt. Developing a seriously hard core following in Santa Cruz, some of their local fans made the trek all the way to Austin to see them play. Really, really good band.

Bret Bollinger of Pepper - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

By the time Pepper made it onstage Antone's was packed wall to wall. I tried to take a few shots from the sound booth but the crowd was just too dense and the little riser it provided didn't help much. Luckily the sound guy noted my dilema and pointed out the stairs to the crows nest. Motioning that it was ok he let me sneak up there for my shots.

Ascending the stairs I found... heaven.

I was all alone, there was an overstuffed couch, and best of all an unobstructed view of the stage, right smack dab in the center. Intro'd by the coach the band hit the stage and welcomed the audience. With all three members of the band taking the role of frontman at times, they worked back and forth with the crowd allowing the audience to pick the songs all night. Playing a set that combined hardcore and dub they worked the songs like men afire. At one point Coach got up to help them on vocals, then later Adam Patterson of The Expendable's joined them onstage for some vocals. By the end of the show all 3 bands were onstage to do an encore of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing".

Thanks to Pepper and Earshot Media for inviting me out and everyone at Antone's for putting up with me. These guys put on a great show.

Pepper at Antone's - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer