Champagne with Pepper

by: Darrin Christopher Huycke

Pepper (http://www.facebook.com/pepperlive), on New Year's Eve, at the Bear Tooth Theater (www.beartooththeatre.net). When I heard that announcement, my mind was flooded with memories of the punk rock days of high school. There is no negativity or shame to my reminiscing, I will always hold deep to my roots. MXPX, Blink-182, Pennywise, the Offspring (Americana and prior), and most of the pop/rock/punk bands from the years it took over the airwaves. If any defense is necessary I only need to reference the Disco era as to music fads that completely rule the industry, and then fade away as fast as a Winter Solstice sunset.

After hearing news of the show, I knew that it was going to be my way to celebrate the New Year. I then started diving into the world of Pepper. To my younger self, they were just another band on the wagon of Volcom Entertainment (yes, the same Volcom that took over the youth of the late 90s & early 2000s), so I had some catching up to do. Pepper has kept things busy since then, releasing a couple more albums, touring, and starting their own independent record label: Law Records. I was glad to discover they had found success, in a niche of music that disappeared so fast. Even though I once trusted a band with my New Year's Eve plans and had to get my tickets reimbursed, I was confident this wasn't going to be the same regret.

After getting through the front door of the Bear Tooth Theater, I was greeted by friends and some of the Bear Tooth staff that I have known through the years of attending their shows. The theater is my preference to see any entertainment that comes to Alaska. With every angle that goes into a good show, they consistently deliver. I had never been to a New Year's Eve concert there though, which brought more excitement to this night. I grabbed a brew and went into the theater to see if the opening band H3 had started. H3 is a local band that I really don't know much about. What I do know is they perform reggae covers very well. Little can be found online for them, other than sample tracks on their Myspace (ahhhhhhh, the collapsed star of the internet!). They rocked the night strong, though, and got the crowd into a groove, who were awaiting the seasoning of the night: Pepper.

"I am SO excited," a friend kept telling me over and over as we were getting ready for Pepper to take the stage. "I know... but you could tell me just one more time," I replied each time she grabbed me to say that. I was stoked too, and listening non-stop to Pepper's discography the days prior to the show added to my anticipation. When I was listening to all their recordings, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from their performance. The vibe of a laid back "day on the beach with beers and a campfire," radiates throughout their albums. But with tracks like "Give It Up," there is energy to their music as well. I thoroughly enjoy their music, but couldn't quite gather what I'd be witnessing at the show.

That feeling didn't last long once they took the stage at the Bear Tooth Theater. Right away, I felt the comfort that I was correct about choosing to celebrate ringing in the year 2012 with Pepper. After they played their second song of the night, "No Control", I took a look behind me at the crowd of 1100 and I could tell they were on the same level me. Pepper had brought the party, and we were all ready to celebrate. Pepper's charisma and humor got everybody dancing and not minding how much beer we spilled on each other. It was an experience that matched that of a buddy band of Pepper's, Slightly Stoopid, and what I feel when going to a show of local boys T.I.A (http://www.anchoragenightout.com/bands/212609/tia).

When midnight was looming, breaching into the new year, Pepper stopped their music to do the countdown with the audience. They brought their family and friends onto stage with them, and the champagne bottles to pop at midnight. Once the new year began, Pepper and the crowd burst into cheers and love. While still being in the front row, I had one of the most memorable introductions to a new year; taking a champagne shower with Pepper (as you can see from the photos). Pepper banged out a few more songs, an encore, and left the stage as 1100 people showed them their appreciation with hoots and hollers.

2011 was far from a dull or lame year here in Alaska, with an impressive list of shows at not only the local level, but national as well. 2012, you're looking like a foxy lady already. I can only hope the Mayan Calendar hoax has been poorly interrupted, or is wrong. If the rest of this year goes the way the beginning of it has, we're in for a great one.

Enjoy local, enjoy music, enjoy life.

Darrin Christopher Huycke