Thursday 07/09/06 311, The Wailers, Pepper @ Mesa Amphitheatre, Phoenix, Arizona

It’s a warm beautiful day and cotton clouds drift over the amphitheatre whilst the smell of grass drifts through the air and it’s not the kind you walk on. Yes happy people, there will be no tears tonight because it’s time for upbeat alternative reggae rock. There’s a heavy college presence, lots of bare skin and a party atmosphere as the pit fills up for the opening act. 

Hailing from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, three-piece band Pepper look ready for the surf dressed in shorts, smiles and marvelous beach scene tans. Kaleo Wassman and Bret Bollinger’s vox sneak in a slow building sensuous tension during ‘Use Me’ and it’s well received as people dance and shout. The dub edged piece ‘Too Much’ is more than enough to cement our affections as Kaleo leans toward the crowd and delivers the “love to love ya…” chorus. Next we get a glimpse into their up coming new album with ‘No Control.’ It’s in the finest of Pepper style with a dead on catchy melody and hard driven beat that delights the fans whilst eliciting the first mosh of the day. Kaleo’s voice is now full of brash boyish charm and sexual angst in ‘Give It Up.’ They leave the crowd jumping with their hands in the air, cheering and begging for more.  

The Wailers set begins and no front man greets us. Instead the mic at the center of the stage stands starkly alone whilst an instrumental is played. The band’s missing man formation is a tribute to the memory of Bob Marley. They dig in as the Wailer Sisters grace the stage whilst Junior Marvin takes over lead vocals performing ‘Stir It Up’ and ‘I Shot The Sheriff’ brilliantly. Junior works the stage as ‘Jammin’s’ vocals and instrumentals intertwine flawlessly. He pauses and says “It smells good down here…are you ready to party?” then shouts 'Jammin' and the horde shout it back to him, over and over again. ‘Get Up, Stand Up’ (For Your Rights) is as prevalent today as it was long ago and the now packed amphitheatre is on it’s feet as Junior jumps into the pit and partakes in the audience’s affections. They finish with ‘One Love People Get Ready’ and seal their claim as true legends in music.