We are often asked to leave our problems at home when we come to work, but at the eBar last Friday night, Gregory Pepper brought His Problems along with him—and we were quite pleased that he did. Promoting the new album Chorus! Chorus! Chorus!, the Guelph/Toronto band, Gregory Pepper and His Problems, put on a super tight set with super white pants.
There was a time when wearing coordinated stage outfits was almost a given for performing musicians, but now that the age of jeans and hoodies has taken over, the same-same look is hard to come by, especially at local shows. So when a band walks out on stage wearing matching trousers and striped shirts, it is difficult not to judge that band’s aesthetic first and foremost. The bright, clean, and quirky look immediately stood out from the backdrop of the dimly lit bar. Though it was nothing flashy, per say, it helped to distinguish the band’s playful nature, as well as their attention to detail within their performance.
The songs, none of which exceeded two minutes, were short in length and sweet in tone, but filled with much more meat than one would expect. Imagine a mixture of The Beach Boys’ harmonies, with an early 2000s pop-punk rhythm section, and a melodic tribute to Weezer—a band comparison I’m sure Pepper and His Problems have heard a million times before. Even the drummer bears a physical resemblance to Weezer’s Patrick Wilson, where the lead singer could be likened to a young Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys (or at least Paul Dano’s portrayal of Wilson in the film Love & Mercy). Nevertheless, with a mix of clean, innocent vocals, big, dirty guitar sounds, and crisply accented drum grooves, Gregory Pepper and His Problems have nailed what their Facebook page has described as “Pinball Pop.”
Though all the tracks on the new album are credited to Gregory Pepper, when it came to the live show, the band truly worked as a unit. From physically leaning on each other for back-to-back support, to belting out harmonies at the drop of a cue, there was an air of musicianship and camaraderie evident throughout the night. At the very least, each band member seemed to be having the time of his life. From flashing huge smiles, to striking classic “rockstar” poses, nearly every moment of the show was a prime photo opportunity.
As the night came to a close, the band’s energy peaked with their encore of Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys are Back in Town,” which, by the way, was foreshadowed at the beginning of their set—did I mention their ambitious attention to detail? If the success of the release show for Chorus! Chorus! Chorus! could be measured in hooting applause, then I would say it was a clear winner for both band and audience alike.