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In the Mix Jason Genegabus |
Pepper is good
for what ailsGUESS IT serves me right for putting my Fourth of July plans in the newspaper. Instead of cruising onboard the Ali'i Kai with Johnny Helm and Speedlimit and watching fireworks on Thursday, I stayed home to cough up a lung and try to sleep off the cold that had me in its grasp.
Friday wasn't much better. More sleeping, lots of Gatorade and a ton of tissues made up most of my holiday, but I did get to see the fireworks off Magic Island from my lanai ...
BY THE time Saturday came calling, I was feeling a little bit better. Which was a good thing, since I had told myself I'd better get out to Kaneohe and check out the guys from Pepper before they left the islands to prepare for this year's Warped Tour.
So off I went to check out BayFest 2003, the annual family event that takes place at the Marine base on the Windward side. The crowd was estimated at about 20,000 strong that night, and I believe it. After enduring a 40-minute wait to get from the end of the freeway to the parking area (with the guys from Everclear stuck in a minivan right behind me) and a 20-minute wait to get my first beer of the evening, I had to elbow my way through a horde of sweaty military guys to catch the rest of Pepper's set.
Forget about the pizza-eating or burping contests that were held, or the girls from Hooters who got into a dunk tank for a few hours that afternoon; the highlight of BayFest's second day had to be the performance by the guys from Kona. Pepper had the crowd chanting "Why don't you have dirty hot sex with me?" as they played their latest single, "Give It Up," and even did a cover of Fiji's "Naughty Girl" as a hana hou. More than a few people have told me how these guys remind them of Sublime, and I'd have to agree ...
LAST WEEKEND also marked the start of Anna Bannanas' 34th "Bannanaversary" celebration. While the owners of the bar on South Beretania near UH-Manoa have changed, the atmosphere hasn't, and there are drink specials galore all week long to help keep the party going. I'm still trying to dig up an old Anna's shirt to wear tomorrow night so I can take advantage of happy-hour prices during John Cruz's set.
Other bands scheduled to play this week at Anna's include the Piranha Brothers tonight, the 86 List on Thursday and Pimpbot with Warsaw Poland Bros. on Friday. Call 946-5190 for info ...
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In the Mix drops Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Star-Bulletin.
Contact Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com.