Kaleo Wassman of Pepper - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer |
by jeff barringer
club kingsnake staff
Pepper
Hometown: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
http://www.pepperlive.com
Pepper Concert Photos
Thursday, April 17th, 2008
Stubb's Bar-B-Q (Austin, Texas)
Also:
Red Eye Empire ,
Iration,
Supervillains
It looks like Austin might see a bit more of Pepper in the future, according to Yesod Williams, drummer for the dub/punk trio Pepper. Yesod's grandmother has re-located to right here in the river city, and to prove his point he brought her up onstage after the third song of their set to say hello, among other things, to the audience.
I was introduced last year, long distance, to Yesod and the band Pepper by my buddy Skillet, front man for the band Wanted Dead. I hooked up with them for their sold out gig at Antone's, and much as I like Antone's I was dieing to get the band under the lights at Stubb's. Antone's is a tough shoot when it's sold out and I wasn't happy with the pictures I took. Stubb's has a big stage, nice light kit and a big photo pit to work out of. I knew that no matter how much running and jumping they did, nor how crowded it was, I would be able to take a few good shots. Pepper has a very energetic stage act, are usually a fun band to see live and as a bonus they always attract the babest of babes. It must be those tan muscular surfer bodies.
Skart of the Supervillains - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer |
Anyway I was glad when I got the email from Mike over at Earshot Media with Pepper's tour schedule showing a stop through Austin. A couple email's back and forth and he hooked me up with their tour manager, The Coach, and I was all set.
Picking up my pass at the box office, I joked with the security guys before heading down to the pit. The show hadn't sold out, probably because The Wailer's were playing over at La Zona Rosa and Austin's reggae audience was divided, still Pepper pulled a solid number and by the time they hit the stage it felt like a sold out show.
First on the bill was a band called the Supervillains. A ska punk band out of Orlando, they had a nice horn section and a mellow buzz that was good for the sunny atmosphere. A good band to kick back and listen to with a beer in your hand on a warm afternoon. I liked the horns, but I have a thing for brass when it's done well. One of the horn section guys kept making eyes at one of the cute babes along the barrier, though I don't think the babe's boyfriend was too receptive. Later I ran into the horn section in the audience before Pepper took the stage and they seemed like some pretty nice guys.
Gabe Davis of Red Eye Empire - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer |
Iration was the next band on the bill, taking the stage at sunset. Formed in Hawaii and now based out of Santa Barbara, Iration is more of a traditional reggae band, sounding as if they spent their youth listening to Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh and Burning Spear. Another great band to just kick back and sway to the music. All that was missing was the palm trees and the crash of the surf.
Red Eye Empire, next up, is based out of Vancouver, B.C. and despite growing up all that cold rain, these canucks managed to cross roots reggae and rock to make their songs sound sun drenched. With some neat songs in their setlist like "Bloodright" they had more of a buzz and edge than the first two bands, and were ,more poppy and bouncy. The dual lead vocals passing between Mike Redmond and Gabe Davis gave them a more rounded sound, and the guitar work of Andre Arsenault was fantastic, making me wonder if he was really Carlos Santana trying to disguise himself with a hat. Lots of energy, these guys were a lot of fun and a great way to lead in to Pepper.
Austin was lucky to get a Pepper show this time. Earlier in the day guitarist Kaleo Wassman had slammed his finger in the door of one of the tour vehicles and apparently had it stitched up just in time for the show.
Either the wound was non-strategic or Kaleo gutted it out because it didn't seem to impact his ability to play,
at least from the audiences perspective. On Stubb's wide stage it gave Bret and Kaleo plenty of room to move and they took full advantage, flailing and flying about the stage like men possessed, Yesod on the drum riser in the back pounding his kit like an automaton. Pepper's high energy fusion of rock and reggae make for a very engaging live show and everyone at the gig was had a blast. Great set.
Pepper has a new disc slotted to release in July and is currently on tour in Europe.
11 May 2008 20:00 Columbia Club Berlin, GERMANY
12 May 2008 20:00 PIRATE SATELLITE FESTIVAL Stuttgart Germany
13 May 2008 19:00 Live Music Hall Cologne, GERMANY
14 May 2008 19:30 Muffathalle Munich, GERMANY
15 May 2008 18:30 Arena Open Air Vienna, AUSTRIA
16 May 2008 19:00 Orpheum Graz Austria
17 May 2008 19:00 Small Arena Vienna Austria
18 May 2008 20:00 Spielboden Dornbin Austria
19 May 2008 19:00 Volkshaus Zurich, SWITZERLAND
20 May 2008 21:00 Musicdrome Milan, ITALY
22 May 2008 20:30 Le Ninkasi Kao Lyon, FRANCE
23 May 2008 20:00 Apolo Barcelona, SPAIN
24 May 2008 20:00 Live Madrid, SPAIN
25 May 2008 20:00 Bilborock Bilbao, SPAIN
27 May 2008 19:30 La Maroquinerie Paris, FRANCE
28 May 2008 19:00 AB Brussels, BELGIUM
29 May 2008 19:30 Melkweg The Max Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
30 May 2008 19:00 Joiners Southampton UK
31 May 2008 19:00 Mean Fiddler/Astoria 2 London, UK
01 June 2008 19:00 ABC Glasgow, UK
03 June 2008 19:30 Academy 2 Manchester, UK
04 June 2008 19:00 Academy Birmingham, UK
05 June 2008 20:00 Academy (Formerly Spirit 57) Dublin, IRELAND
20 June 2008 20:00 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Out Las Vegas NV
22 June 2008 20:00 The Catalyst Santa Cruz CA
23 June 2008 20:00 Karma A Victorville C
02 Aug 2008 20:00 Pacific Amphitheatre Costa Mesa, California
03 Aug 2008 20:00 Santa Barbara Bowl Santa Barbara, California
06 Aug 2008 18:00 Idaho Center Amphitheatre Boise, Idaho
07 Aug 2008 18:00 Marymoor Amphitheatre Seattle, Washington
08 Aug 2008 18:00 Cuthbert Amphitheatre Eugene, Oregon
09 Aug 2008 18:00 Greek Theatre Berkeley, California
10 Aug 2008 18:00 Truckee Regional Park Amphitheatre Truckee, California
13 Aug 2008 18:00 Butte Amphitheatre Butte, Montana
15 Aug 2008 19:00 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, Colorado
16 Aug 2008 19:00 Fox Theatre Boulder CO
21 Aug 2008 19:00 Bank Of America Pavilion Boston, Massachusetts
22 Aug 2008 19:00 Stone Pony Lot Stone Pony Lot Asbury Park, New Jersey
23 Aug 2008 18:15 Penn’s Landing Philadelphia PA
24 Aug 2008 19:00 Pier Six Concert Series Baltimore, Maryland
28 Aug 2008 18:00 Koka Booth Amphitheatre Cary, North Carolina
29 Aug 2008 20:00 The Tabernacle Atlanta, Georgia
30 Aug 2008 18:00 Mizner Park Amphitheatre Boca Raton, Florida
31 Aug 2008 18:00 St. Augustine Amphitheatre St. Augustine, Florida
05 Sep 2008 16:00 Mesa Amphitheatre Phoenix, Arizona
06 Sep 2008 18:00 Open Air Theatre San Diego CA
Technorati Tags:
Austin,
Pepper,
Iration,
Red Eye Empire,
Supervillains,
Stubb's
Pepper at Stubb's BarBQ- more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer
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