[ THE SOCAL SKANK ]
The guys of Pepper -- Bret Bollinger, left, Yesod Williams and Kaleo Wassman -- get back to the 'aina.
Pepper’s season
of sales
Things seem to be working out just fine for Bret Bollinger, Kaleo Wassman and Yesod Williams.
Now living in Southern California, the three Kona boys collectively known as Pepper are enjoying a surge in sales of their sophomore album, "In With the Old," and are preparing to hit the road again, just weeks after their last jaunt across America.
"Seeing that little bit of progress keeps you going," said Williams, the band's drummer, from his new apartment near San Diego. After four years of living together, the guys are finally making enough to move into their own places.
'Band Camp'
Featuring Pepper with Bubble, Battle Royale, Linus, Living in Question, Missing Dave, the Nono Boys, Plain Jane and Sam's Garage, and special guest appearances by dance-hall reggae freestyle champion Wicked YB and DJ Jah-Know, Bargain Music and Donavon FrankenreiterWhere: The Beach House, Pier 7, behind Maritime Museum
When: 7 p.m. today, doors open at 6
Cost: $20, 21 and over
Call: 296-1019
"We've never sold so much CDs in such a short amount of time," he said, referring to the approximately 15,000 copies of "In With the Old" that fans purchased since its release on March 30. "We're really happy with what we're doing so far."
PEPPER'S progress will continue next month, when the band kicks off its summer tour on July 8. The next six and a half weeks will take them through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and Florida before moving on through the Midwest and Pacific Northwest before returning to California.
This tour won't last as long as the 48 shows they performed in a 54-day period earlier this year with Slightly Stoopid (see below), but it does raise the ante in regards to the band's success.
"(It's) pretty much the same run of what we did on this last tour," said Williams, "but we'll be headlining this time instead of being the support act.
"We were blown away by the amount of people that were coming out to see us and the amount of (merchandise) we were selling ... so our agent figured it's time we should just step it up."
The start of this summer's tour also coincides with the release of "Searching for the Haj," a live performance DVD with "a little more thought to it."
Chad Campbell, a high school classmate of the band, took footage from a West Coast tour last winter and combined it with skits to create something more substantial than just another live DVD.
"I think it reflects the type of people we are," Williams said. "We did some scenes; it's Hawaii related. It's super cool."
Another "super cool" idea the band had was to visit not only Oahu and their home island of Hawaii, but to also play gigs on Kauai and Maui while they're here.
"We got to, you know?" replied Williams when asked why they're playing each of the islands. "No other bands do that, so we want to bring the music to people who don't get that much.
"It's cool to bring more alternative, mainland-type bands that a lot of people growing up ... wouldn't see," he said.
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Slightly Stoopid plays
isle show
So if you're planning to see Pepper tonight, it's only natural you'll want to check out their buddies in Slightly Stoopid, who return for a Honolulu gig next Thursday night.
The San Diego band's core is made up of childhood friends Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald, with newer Stoopid music mates drummer Ryan Moran and Oguer Ocon on percussion. The band plays that cool SoCal surf-influenced combo of punk, reggae, ska, hip-hop and metal that's popular with the locals as well.
The band's latest album is "Everything You Need" on the Surfdog label.
» Place: Pipeline Cafe, 805 Pohukaina St.
» Time: 7 p.m. Thursday
» Tickets: $15
» Call: 1-877-750-4400
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