Showdate: July 17, 2009
Well if there is a show that can touch off a mid-life crisis, or end one…..let’s see what is up.
Doors were at 6pm. Reportedly there was an open bar for 3 hours. I wasn’t there, this is all secondhand. But the combination of a largely male, 20-something crowd juiced up on jet-fuel grade free rum while banging around to the rock/reggae/ska (Pick a definition you wanna defend) fusion of Pepper…..could be dangerous. Or delicious. Venue also released free tickets, guaranteeing a large crowd.
It was like 100 degrees at the venue. Wanna bolt?
My usual trick of writing shit on my arm to remember setlist when I am boozing wasn’t going to really fly, so didn’t bother. Fair warning.
Was with a group of 5 friends. The coolest people in the world. Wouldn’t have wanted to be there with anyone else. 2 hours in that sauna? Fucking stormtroopers.
So the venue. It was so dark. I dunno. There was cabanas somewhere. Was packed. We were on your left. Obstructed view of the drummer (Yesod Williams) and bass (Brett Bollinger). I’m old. The pit was violent. I’m old. Totally the place if you are young, very muscular, and mosh like an asshole. I’m none of the above. I’m old. The thought of traversing through the sweat slick to reach a better view? No thanks. I’m lame. Disoriented from my first trip to Vegas ever I can’t even pull off the simple things, apparently I need the comfort and repetitive rituals of the places I know from repeated shows. I am lame. Leave a message I’ll call you back.
Enough bullshit.
For a band that does everything they can to be unstructured, Pepper is a hell of a lot of fun. Most songs rip it up and then a crowd interaction break is guaranteed.
e.g.
“Thank you drunk sir for wearing that bucket [mock applauding], now you’ll have somewhere to puke. And you can just drink it again since it is almost all alcohol.”
or
“You know why bands have you clap like this [hands over your head], cause it makes your titties bounce up and down”
and
“[asking for song requests] It is alot easier for us to hear you if you are a woman with big tits.”
Some highlights “Stormtroopers”, “Freeze” (jumped up and down like a mother), “B.O.O.T”, “Give It Up”, and….
“We’re gonna gold old school on this one.”
“Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Drops.
Hearing those distinctive chords, followed by the percussion launch. No words.
I remember vaguely jumping screaming “Seattle bitches” and mini old school moshing. Unexpected. Fun. Shared. My favorite memory will be seeing a buddy with a silly ass grin on his face as I bumped into him a couple times. I knew he knew what I was up to. You know.
Buy 2002′s Kona Town and go to Pepper. One friend said “this is the first time I hadn’t heard the music or band before hand and really liked it”. If you are young, dumb, full of cum…hit the floor. Show us the style. No lacking opportunity. If there is a balcony or upper, I’ll be there.
I’m old and lame. The show sealed it. I’ve skirted the issue by not hitting these types of shows lately. But, you know, fuck it. The view on the back side of 30 will have to be from closer to the bar.
Me: “I’m getting too old for this shit.”
T: “I think that every time”
Yeah.
I will too.
