by Gavin Heaney
Every Island has its own style, but they are all share a connection to the water. The reggae of Jamaica and the slack key of Hawaii each have their roots in what the Hawaiians call makai, or oceanside.
“I really do feel there is a frequency that lends itself to the island lifestyle. Even all the way across the world from each other, it still resonates,” said Kaleo Wassman, singer and guitarist, who with Bret Bollinger on bass and drummer Yesod Williams form the band Pepper.
Pepper emerged from the small town of Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii in the late ‘90s as a cross strain of breezy, local hawaiian reggae and the punk rock soundtrack of Taylor Steele surf movies. Following the lead of Sublime they became mainstays of the new punky reggae party that emerged in Southern California and have since laid down roots in the South Bay.
Pepper performs Saturday afternoon, May 4, on the High Tide stage at the BeachLife Music Festival, in King Harbor.
“I remember the first time I ever went to Captain Kidd’s with Byron and Fletcher from Pennywise. We actually acquired our studio in Redondo Beach from them in 2016,” Wassman said. “Before that, we recorded with Mike Sutherland at Total Access right next door.”
At Total Access, Pepper crossed paths with Hermosa Beach musician Jeff Nisen who would go on to form Kona Town Recording with the band at the Redondo space. He co-wrote and produced their 2019 release Local Motion, which debuted at number one on the reggae billboard chart and remained there for eight weeks. Nisen has since joined the band as their lead guitarist.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with Pepper in the studio for almost a decade at Kona Town,” he said. “It’s been such an honor to finally join them on the road where we get to play some of the most prominent venues in the country. The journey from Tuesday nights at Barnacles in Hermosa Beach to selling out places like Red Rocks in Colorado has been quite a ride. Now we get to bring our live set back home to the BeachLife Festival. It feels very full circle to me.”
For Pepper, it’s all about Ohana, the family and friends. “My parents are players, their friends, my uncles and my aunties, they all just got together kani ka pila style, jamming music. We grew up with that,” Wassman said. The band has tended to their island roots while continuing to branch out by collaborating with both upcoming and legendary reggae artists from Kona to Kingston. For Pepper, each new album is an opportunity not only to pay homage to their own reggae-rock influences, but to expand the circle of connection, camaraderie, and synergy that surrounds the band.
Wassman is grateful for his new South Bay family. “You guys really have your own special zone, I really like the vibe, it’s fantastic.” he said. “There’s history here and a community that’s very reminiscent to me. We’re so lucky to be here, it’s a big blessing.”
Wassman is enthusiastic about the bands upcoming performance at BeachLife.
“Ohana. Let’s hang, let’s watch Sting and just have a really fun time in South Bay,” he said.
Pepper perform at Sea Philanthropy Gala
Pepper will perform at the 2nd Annual BeachLife Festival Evening by the Sea Philanthropy Gala on Wednesday, May 1 at the Portofino Hotel. The evening will benefit local nonprofits, including the Jimmy Miller Foundation and the Redondo Beach Education Foundation. The evening will include an awards presentation, a silent auction, a hosted bar and hors d’oeuvres.
Last year’s awards recipients were Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand, who received the BeachLife Charges Award, and the South Bay Boardriders Club, which received the BeachLife Breakwall Award.
For tickets visit Givebutter.com/beachlife-gala
Best of the Beach
Outdoor Music
Easy Reader readers voted BeachLife the Best Outdoor in this years Best of the Beach Dining and Entertainment balloting.
BeachLife Festival returns to Redondo’s King Harbor over the weekend of May 3 through May 5, headlined by Sting, Incubus and My Morning Jacket. As its local staff gears up for the event’s fifth edition Marketing Director Katie Henley describes what’s involved.
Any changes this year? Perfecting what’s come before?
We made some pretty cool changes to the festival this year. First, we moved our DAOU SideStage restaurant to the LowTide Stage, which will allow for an ocean view and a whole new experience. Also, we upgraded our VIP sections for more space and comfort. And we just announced legendary DJs Mix Master Mike of Beastie Boys and Paul Oakenfold will play two sets — the first at BeachLife and then they’ll roll over to the Portofino for the late night.
What remains to be done?
The month before the festival is when everything is happening all at once. I’m executing marketing proposals for print, tv, radio, and digital and planning the media rollout for the festival. My team is also holding sponsor and community events every weekend, and planning a huge gala to raise money for our philanthropic partners. The content team is cranking out new videos and graphics on the daily, and getting signage designed and printed for the entire festival. The ticketing team is distributing the wristbands and credentials and keeping track of allotments between the artists, fans, partners, and all the different festival departments. The security team is strategizing. The production team is working nonstop to organize the festival load-in. They, literally build The City of BeachLife.
BeachLife Co-founder Allen Sanford wrote a tribute to Mayor Brand in the 2024 commemorative magazine. Might there be some kind of tribute at the festival?
All I know is, I will 100% be “pouring some out” for Bill Brand on Sunday night. Because without him, I wouldn’t be here. He helped make this BeachLife dream a reality and he will forever be remembered as an absolute legend.
Sugar Ray remains undefeated; in the lineup for every BeachLife. How long will their reign continue?
Not many people know this, but the first year was exceptionally challenging for me when it came to marketing. We were brand new, and it felt like no one took us seriously as a festival. I could barely get artists to agree to interviews, or even get some to answer the phone… But not Sugar Ray. Mark McGrath was so genuinely stoked about everything we were doing, and he supported and believed in BeachLife. Before his set that first year, he did a particularly amazing interview. I gave him a big hug and blurted out, “Mark, can Sugar Ray please promise to come back to BeachLife every year? We really need your positive energy.” He laughed and said okay. Later that morning, Sugar Ray came out on stage and played to a massive crowd. They had everyone singing along, and it was, like, noon. I remember Allen saying, “Wow, we should have these guys back every year. They just crush it.” I said, “I’m so glad you said that… because I already invited them.”
Will there be a BeachLife Ranch this year?
Our laser focus this fall will be to open the CA Surf Club in King Harbor. That means, if you need your BeachLife Festival “fix” this year, you better come out in May!
Anything else you’d like to add about BeachLife and this year’s festival?
The thing that makes BeachLife most special, is that we’re a small business. We are a handful of people who put on this insane operation — not some giant hedge fund. We’re one of the last independent music festivals in existence. When you call, email, or message us you get a real person on the line (not a robot or some weird AI generated-hologram). We work so hard because this community is important to us, and we’ll go to great lengths to inspire joy.
Please, when you’re out at BeachLife, let your hair down. Laugh and dance and sing your heart out. Check out a band you’re unfamiliar with. Try a food you’ve never heard of before. Make the time to see the art. Get lost in the moment. Take too many pictures. Fall in love. Make some new friends. Create memories to last a lifetime. We’re here for it all. ER
