Pepper

Pepper is a dub rock band from Kailua, Hawaii, United States, formed in 1997 and active since then. The group is made up of Bret Bollinger and Kaleo, and its sound spans alternative rock, dub, reggae and ska. The band releases music through LAW Records.

Career

The trio moves from Kailua Kona, Hawaii to the mainland in 1999 and builds a career around energetic live shows and a laid-back island-influenced style. Its first album, Give'n It, appears in 1999, followed by a string of releases that includes No Shame in 2006 and Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations in 2008.

No Shame is recorded with Nick Hexum of 311, Tony Kanal of No Doubt and Paul Leary of the Butthole Surfers. Pepper also releases the EP Stiches in late 2010, after which the band returns to work on a self-titled album that is recorded over the course of a year in various studios with producer Matt Wallace, known for work with Maroon 5, O.A.R. and Faith No More.

Collaborations and reach

Pepper tours extensively with acts including 311, Slightly Stoopid, Flogging Molly and Sublime With Rome, and appears on Warped Tour in multiple summers. Its music also appears in films and television such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Good Luck Chuck, as well as in video game soundtracks.

Style

The band’s songs are associated with positive themes, beach imagery, boisterous rhythms and a relaxed feel, combining party anthems and mellow melodies with a strong live emphasis. Its catalogue is described as reflecting a lifestyle as much as a genre identity, while still remaining rooted in reggae, ska and alternative rock.