Fri, Jun 16
Cervantes Presents

Pepper

The Elovaters
Show: 8:00 pm Doors: 7:00 pm
Black Sheep
$40.00
All Ages
Artists
Pepper

Two decades. They've gone by in a blur, filled with soundchecks, encores, album releases, and sold-out shows stretching from the California coastline to the UK mainland. Along the way, Pepper has sharpened its own "Kona dub-rock" sound — a blend of reggae, alternative rock, island rhythms, and punky spirit — while also building a community of fans and likeminded bands.

That communal spirit runs throughout the band's eighth studio album, Local Motion. After sharing shows for years with their heroes and peers, Pepper's three members — vocalist/guitarist Kaleo Wassman, vocalist/bassist Bret Bollinger, and drummer Yesod Williams — are no longer merely artists; they're ambassadors of a scene, bringing people together under an umbrella of positive-minded music and collaboration. Appropriately, they share the spotlight with some of their longtime friends on Local Motion, whose songs feature appearances by Stick Figure, E.N Young and Micah Brown of Iration. A celebration of artistic synergy, brotherhood, and modern reggae music, Local Motion is Pepper's most collaborative record to date, shining a light not only upon the three bandmates themselves, but also upon the wide community they've helped build.

"We're part of a community of bands who have the same mindset," says Wassman. "They're our peers. They're our friends. We all exist on the same plane, and that's why we called this album Local Motion, because this is our local scene. It's where we fit in."

Before Pepper began building a community in its adopted hometown of Southern California, the group held its very first rehearsal in 1997 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. All three members were natives of the Big Island, and together, they made a sound that nodded to their tropical roots while also moving forward into new territory. After earning a local fanbase in Hawaii, they moved to the mainland, where Pepper quickly became a popular live act. Pepper's diverse music allowed the group to tour the country with a wide variety of bands, including reggae icons (The Wailers), punk bands (Pennywise), reggae-rockers (311, Slightly Stoopid), and hip-hop legends (Snoop Dogg). Meanwhile, the band's admiration for DIY-minded groups like NOFX inspired Pepper to launch its own label, LAW Records, which gave the trio complete control over its own music. It also allowed the band to sign other acts, which expanded Pepper's circle even further.

For an album that features nearly a dozen guests, Local Motion was appropriately recorded with several producers, including Stick Figure, the English Beat's Wayne Lothian, E.N Young, Henry Fong, Jinco, the Dirty Heads' Dave Foral, and Jungle Josh. Working with a range of collaborators gave Pepper a chance to experiment with new sounds. The result is an album that pays tribute to the band's past while also pushing forward — and, perhaps, hinting at what might be in store for the next 20 years. There's the brass-filled bounce of "Carnaval," the sexed-up swagger of "Sugar (808 remix)," and the summery grooves of "Warning," all wrapped into a tracklist whose songs celebrate the bright side of a life well-lived.

"When we moved to California, we were playing small clubs," remembers Bollinger, who now plays outdoor amphitheaters, indoor theaters, festivals, and other high-capacity venues with his bandmates. "We felt like we were one of the only bands carrying the flag for this genre in America. These days, it's different. We're seeing some real movement within the reggae scene. This sound has become an established part of American music, and we're grateful for the other bands who are flying the flag, too. Everything is connecting. The energy is right. Incorporating those bands into our new record was the perfect alignment of where we need to be."

"In a world of social chaos," adds Yes Williams, "we wanted a ‘return to community,' that community being the reggae-rock community. We continue to flourish and grow due to the synergy of likeminded bands and fans. Without each other, we are nothing, fom where the music comes from to where it goes. This record is filtered through the community, a true Local Motion that we are lucky enough to be a part of."

The Elovaters

The Elovaters are one of the fastest rising groups in the American reggae scene. It’s an ascension that’s come through constant touring in support of acts like Stick Figure, Pepper and Ziggy Marley to eventually headlining clubs throughout the country. In 2020, the group’s monthly Spotify listeners grew 606%. It would be a high watermark that kept the group in good spirits despite having to spend over a year off the road.

Drummer Nicholas Asta said that year away was good for the group. The Elovaters went into the studio with producer Johnny Cosmic at Great Stone Studios space in Oakland, CA, spending 16 days of recording in the compound. “It definitely catered to us being the most creative that we’ve ever been in the studio,” Asta said.

“Usually we are feeling rushed and on the clock. This time we had so much extra time that we’d take a riff that Johnny [‘Blaze’ Alves] wrote while we were making tacos. Johnny was just writing a riff and Jackson [Wetherbee] was pouring margaritas. And that’s how ‘Margaritas’ started.”

“Margaritas” (featuring St. Maarten reggae group Orange Grove) is the second single off the group’s forthcoming album, Castles. Nestled into a kick-back groove, “Margaritas” is an off-the-clock anthem that reflects the ease the group discovered in the studio. The single immediately earned placement on Spotify’s Beach Vibes playlist. Singer and guitarist Jackson Wetherbee said it’s the group’s “most eclectic album they’ve ever done.”

“I’ve brought in more singer/songwriter stuff,” he said. “We weren’t trying to be overly reggae on this album.”

The single “My Friend” featuring The Movement and Keznamdi best illustrates the growth in The Elovaters sound. Each artist reflects on the friendships that kept their spirits up over an acoustic strum and sparse drum beat. It’s stripped down to the essentials, but The Elovaters find a balance between the serene acoustics and propulsive hip hop and reggae grooves across Castles. Wetherbee and Asta agreed the two-plus weeks in the studio brought out the best in everyone, which can be heard in the decisions made by Johnny “Blaze” Alves on guitar, Derrick Cabral on percussion, Matt Link on bass, and Greg Nectow on keyboards. 

The Elovaters are deeply collaborative on this record, expanding on the collective approach to the Double Vision EP. “Let It All Out” with Bret Bollinger of Pepper from the EP in 2020 was a huge single for the group (also making the Beach Vibes playlist). The Elovaters continue their run of high profile collaborations on Castles with other guest appearances from Olympic snowboarder Luke Mitrani, Brother Ali, Stick Figure, and G. Love & Special Sauce.

“It’s unbelievable considering where we’ve come from as a couple of kids on the south shore of Boston to having The Movement, Stick Figure, and G. Love on our songs,” Wetherbee said.

The Elovaters formed in 2014 and have released two full length albums and an award-winning EP. Defy Gravity was the group’s first big record in 2018 after signing to not-for-profit record label Rootfire Cooperative. Debuting at #1 on the Billboard Reggae chart and iTunes Reggae chart, Defy Gravity was produced by Danny Kalb and the single “Live By The Day” caught the attention of Jimmy Buffett’s team who programmed it into regular rotation on SiriusXM’s “Margaritaville” station. The band’s success with SiriusXM has gone on to include the singles “Criminal” and “Fast & Slow” added to regular rotation on Kenny Chesney’s station “No Shoes Radio”

The Elovaters have played noteworthy reggae festivals like Cali Roots, Levitate Music Festival, Reggae Rise Up Florida and Utah, and One Love Cali Reggae Fest. Catch them on tour at theelovaters.com. -Blake Gillespie

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