 "Photo: Carlos Alfaro | Daily 49er")
The pungent smell of marijuana and pheromones saturated the smoky air at the Anaheim House of Blues, as dub-reggae-rock trio Pepper played a pristine set Monday night.
The trio from Kailua-Kona Hawaii, continues to prove that three-member bands can make noise comparable to the Rolling Stones, but also will permeate simplicity as something cool.
Girls swung their hips and others danced with their lovers as Kaleo Wassman (guitar) beat his Fender Stratocaster senseless with nasty ska rhythms and punk rock progressions. Wassman sang in unison with Bret Bollinger (bass), whose passionate moves caused girls to scream, "I want him!"
Wassman and Bollinger still enjoy jumping around and dancing in their traditional white-boy reggae style even after 15 years of being in the music scene. Their music is not the nostalgic sound or style of Steel Pulse, Peter Tosh, or Clint Eastwood and General Saint. But if Bob Marley were still among us, it would be reasonable if he said Pepper has some good vibrations.
The fans' faces were plastered with smiles when Bollinger announced that Orange County is the "poonanie" of America since there is an ample amount of BevMo locations.
The stage was lit with six paper sphere lights that resembled Ikea products, hung at random locations. At first the groups personal lighting arrangements seemed to be borderline tacky, but the simplicity in lighting grew on the crowd as the lights spun on a swivel and projected various internal color patterns. This was no Radiohead lightshow, but the simplicity of the Ikea-style lights ended up complimenting the raw simplicity of the trio.
Pepper concluded the evening with a three-song encore, beginning with their hit song "Give it Up." Bollinger thrusted his bass vigorously during the course of the song, as it he was having some "dirty hot sex," as described in the infectious tune.
The show marked Pepper's last stop on their current tour with the Expendables. Wassman mentioned how much fun this current tour has been and that they have been partying and blacking out a little more than usual.
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