This past Tuesday, March 14th, Joe Samba and Pepper took the stage at The Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia. Opening the show, Joe Samba brought the excitement and did not fail to start the night off right. With a mix of old and new music, including popular hits like “Create Something” and “Beef,” Joe Samba’s signature sound was even more exciting in live performance. The cohesive mix of ska and reggae lit up the room like a ray of sunshine. The groovy music kept the crowd dancing song after song while the band also spontaneously broke out into jam sessions. From the crowd perspective, you could just tell that the band was having a blast which kept the energy going for everyone there. Joe Samba put on a very enjoyable opening set before leaving the stage for Pepper to perform.
Pepper made their grand entrance with the drummer, Yesod Williams, riding onto the stage on a bike. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the record “Kona Town,” Pepper put on more of a party than a concert. Guitarist and lead vocalist, Kaleo Wassman, kept the crowd engaged in every second of the show and invited everyone to sing along. Bassist and backup vocalist, Bret Bollinger, made the show extremely dynamic while taking up comedic presence across the entire stage. Pepper put on one of the liveliest sets I have seen in a long time with each moment packed with entertainment. If anyone in the crowd wasn’t dancing for Joe Samba’s performance, they definitely could not hold out for Pepper’s set.
If you are a fan of Joe Samba or Pepper you cannot miss this tour. This show will not let the rock-reggae community down; it lives up to the hype. Each moment will keep you on your toes and wanting for the show to keep going all night.
