Pass The Pepper
The Pepper Interview
By: Joshua K. Chase

Pepper, an eclectic trio from Hawaii, is unique in more ways than one. The music of guitarist Kaleo Wassman, bassist Bret Bollinger and drummer Yesod Williams is rooted in reggae and rock, but touches on everything from metal to rap.

The band’s musical-melting-pot-history has a lot to do with this. Pepper has worked with so many artists from so many different genres, that their music is impossible to define in just one sentence. Ron “Saint” Germain, the producer of Pepper’s In With The Old, has produced records for such bands as 311, Sonic Youth, Bad Brains and Tool. In With The Old also features keyboardist Ronnie King, who played with 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, and the Distillers, and steel guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, who played with Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers.

Pepper’s press kit boasts of a large female fan base. And why might that be? The quirky, charming, sometimes confusing, Bollinger explained, “You see the signs that say, ‘Thunder From Down Under’? Yeah, it’s similar to that.”

The artwork on all of the band’s albums, and on their website is done by Ben Brough. When I asked them if they just liked his art or if Brough is a friend they were trying to help get exposure, Wassman answered “All of the above. He’s just a fucking great artist.”

As with many groups, the buzz about Pepper is fuelled by comparisons to other bands. And when people talk about Pepper, Sublime is usually the other band. Which should come as no surprise, after all, Sublime was always a band you could count on to bring a skate-punk crowd to a dancehall-show- a feat Pepper accomplishes in a way that would make Brad Nowell proud. So I asked them about this correlation: Is it an honor to be compared to Sublime, or is it an insult? To my surprise, Pepper’s answer wasn’t rooted in denial, the way many bands would have replied. Where most bands would have pointed out differences and proclaimed their originality, Wassman excitedly, but simply, answered, “No, that’s the shit. If you’re compared to Sublime, that’s the shit.”

And while Pepper has a sound that could surely stand on its own, without any gimmicks, for some reason, the fact that the band is from Hawaii seems to hover about them no matter where they go. It seems that in any interview, article or website, Hawaii always seems to come into the picture. Williams is quick to point out, “The cheesy shit [about Hawaii] is the stuff that other people write.” Then he confesses, “The other stuff, we did.” And to make sure there’s no denial of Hawaiian pride, Bollinger adds, “We’re definitely here to represent.”

The fun, relaxed reggae beats, the potentially offensive, but always humorous lyrics, are extensions of the band member’s personalities. And when all is said and done, Pepper is just a trio of loyal and good natured, sunshine boys from the islands. They love to play music and kick back with their friends. And it’s clear from their sound, that Pepper’s music represents the people who make it.