Pepper has been a staple of the Reggae Rock scene for the final 25 years now with greater than 10 albums below their belt… but It looks like I used to be simply studying about them and jamming to Kona City for the primary time yesterday. So right here I’m 23 years older and greyer than when Kona City blew my thoughts. One way or the other Kaleo Wassman (guitar/vocals), Bret Bollinger (bass/vocals), and Yesod Williams (drums/backing vocals/tons of enjoyable) have discovered easy methods to cease time as they appear youthful, more healthy, and sound higher than ever. There should be a secret waterfall of youth again in Kailua, Hawaii they aren’t sharing with us!
Opening up for Pepper and one in all their favourite followers is Miss Nirvana Goberhdhan, a.okay.a. Vana Liya – with one stunning full-length album out and a second within the works she is an previous, candy soul in a younger physique. With the voice of an angel, and the spirit to match she is a singer-songwriter that I might be anxiously ready to listen to new materials from. Her band consisting of Derek (violin), James (bass), Dan (guitar), and Jordenn (drums) was simply as gifted and pleasant as Vana, and having the chance to hang around with them a bit of bit you might inform that not solely does their band sound nice collectively, however they actually bond collectively and have enjoyable with one another.
We had the chance to see each Pepper and Vana Liya on the Brooklyn Bowl in Philadelphia for Pepper’s Small Kine Tour. The sold-out present was electrical from begin to end with a crowd ranging in ages from what I might inform about 5 years of age by way of their 70’s.
Earlier than the present @IronLionImages by Todd Judd pictures had the chance to satisfy each Pepper and Vana Liya for a @Faces of Reggae photograph shoot. Pepper is aware of easy methods to have a blast and had a few of the finest pictures for this mission that I’ve seen. Vana Liya additionally had some actually enjoyable pictures, and so they have been type sufficient to have us be part of them backstage and we have been in a position to seize some candid and real moments of a tremendous band loving what they have been placed on this earth to do!
Vana Liya takes the stage on the Brooklyn Bowl in Philadelphia to a bought out crowd, and so they know easy methods to get the social gathering began. With the dimly lit stage and purple lights glowing behind Vana’s black skirt and bikini prime she and the band take management of the stage and has the viewers vibing instantly. After a enjoyable intro, the group dances to When it Feels Proper. Watching Vana’s band jam to her angelic voice and dance to the grooves they’re spitting out seems to be as a lot enjoyable for these within the band as it’s for these of us watching. As Vana bought her begin taking part in stunning ukelele covers of a few of her favourite bands (Pepper being her first) it was no shock that she and the band performed a number of covers, one in all which this previous head’s favourite was 99 Pink Balloons. Because the set is coming nearer to the tip, Vana talks about how even earlier than she was found by posting ukulele covers and being the primary feminine singer signed to LAW Data she was a fan using the rail at Pepper covers… she says, “Perhaps if all of us ask actually properly Kaleo will come out and sing this subsequent music with us…” After all, the group erupts anticipating seeing Pepper shortly and desirous to get a fast appetizer of what is going to occur later. Miss Nirvana and the band start to play Spherical and Spherical with each James and Dan actually dancing in circles on stage, and each single member of the band smiling ear to ear figuring out they’re about to share the stage with Kaleo. Kaleo and Vana don’t disappoint as they dance and share the stage collectively, Kaleo’s vocals taking part in a pleasant salty to Vana’s tremendous candy. This sold-out present in Philly, in the event that they didn’t know of Vana earlier than actually have her on their playlist now.
With the power on the Brooklyn Bowl already tremendous excessive and other people crashing in opposition to the rails earlier than Vana’s set had even begun, it was simple to inform that this night time was going to be a present to recollect. As Pepper is being launched, “…from Kailua, Hawaii…” This legendary 3-piece band storms the stage, and drummer, Yesod Williams runs proper up and places his face straight in entrance of my digicam together with his kick-ass beard and fun-loving smile, reasonably than capturing it on digicam I fanboy out and go for a number of excessive fives… sorry-ish.
Pepper doesn’t fiddle kicking off their set with a traditional favourite for long-time followers with Storm Troopers. The gang is instantly into it, Pepper with out lacking a beat go into Love Affair, after which instantly into my private favourite music of theirs – F**okay Round (All Night time). Everybody in The Bowl was jamming, and as we have been leaving the pit, I noticed not solely your complete crowd getting down however the bartenders and safety have been jamming to what Pepper was promoting. Perhaps that waterfall of youth that Pepper appears to have discovered comes from the pure pleasure they appear to share with their followers. I’ve seen them carry out many instances through the years, however all the time at festivals – this hit in a different way. They all the time appear to have a lot enjoyable performing, however at a pageant, they’re usually 7 ft off the bottom and not less than 15 ft from these on the rail… nearly unreachable. Right here, on the Brooklyn Bowl, every of the band members really feel like they’re taking part in, smiling, and joking round with you personally. The gang can really feel that, and it looks as if the band can really feel that distinction as nicely. With that power Pepper rips into a way more upbeat model of Warning, a music produced by the favored band Stick Determine. When you can hear Stick’s affect on this music, Pepper clearly makes it their very own.
One among my favourite issues to search for when watching bands carry out is how different artists watch them… As we watched Pepper from the aspect stage it was actually cool to see Vana Liya pressed in opposition to the aspect stage, simply as she mentioned she used to journey the rail to her favourite band, she was glued to their efficiency. This was particularly particular as she was about to affix Pepper on stage becoming a member of them play what was her very first cowl she posted on social media – Commerce Winds. I can’t think about the complete circle second of loving a band, overlaying the band, getting found due to the band, and touring and taking part in with that very same band… a lot like to each Pepper and Vana for seeing that by way of because it was magical.
Simply as the group will get all feely-feely, the lights dim a bit on the entrance of the stage and deal with the again the place Yesod begins to tear right into a drum solo and I’m undecided how his drum equipment didn’t collapse into items – the stage was shaking and everybody might really feel his mad beats. It was simply what the group was craving as Pepper saved the tempo up and saved the group dancing and transferring as they slid into the classics to shut out the present with Stone Love and Give it Up.
Once you depart a present, and the band seems to have simply pretty much as good a time because the viewers (and the viewers is singing and dancing on their method out of the venue) it was a good time. This was the case for each of those superb bands. In the event you get an opportunity to hit them up on the Small Kine tour, do your self and your soul a favor – get on the market and get down! Perhaps, you’ll even discover that waterfall of youth Pepper appears to have discovered.
Matt Grube
Todd M. Judd for ipromiseyoumedia.com
Pepper at The Brooklyn Bowl, Philadelphia
