“Kona Dub-Rock.” That’s how Pepper describes their blend of reggae, alternative rock, dub, island rhythms, and punk rock energy. It’s a sound that’s taken the trio from the Big Island of Hawaii — where vocalist/guitarist Kaleo Wassman, vocalist/bassist Bret Bollinger, and drummer Yesod Williams held their first band practice as teenagers in the late 1990s — to the upper reaches of Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart, where 2019’s Local Motion peaked at Number 1.
Nearly 25 years into the band’s career, Pepper’s three members are no longer merely artists. They’re ambassadors to a thriving scene. As co-founders of their own record label, LAW Records, they’ve enriched the reggae community worldwide by reissuing albums by Steel Pulse and Jimmy Cliff and releasing more than 20 other artists. As road warriors, they’ve traveled North America with The Wailers, 311, Pennywise, and Snoop Dogg, building a diverse community of collaborators and fans by blurring the boundaries that normally exist between genres. For Pepper, each new album is an opportunity not only to pay homage to their own reggae-rock roots, but also to expand the circle of connection, camaraderie, and synergy that surrounds the band.