In The Loop Magazine The High Tide Summer Tour Got The Vic Heated As Pepper Scorches Through Town

The High Tide Summer Tour Got The Vic Heated As Pepper Scorches Through Town

Jun 29, 2026 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

By Fred Peth

The summer season in Chicago can officially begin when Pepper comes to town. The band returned to the city for its first performance at The Vic Theatre bringing their friends The Movement and Kash’d Out, who opened the night.

The biggest Chicago Bears fan in all of Hawaii, Yesod Williams who inherited his love for the team from his father. He walked out on stage wearing an orange-and-blue foam cheese grater to the cheers of the crowd. Soon after, chants of “Packers Suck!” grew louder and louder with Yee crashing his cymbals in rhythm of the words.

Pepper did not waste any time and launched into a set packed with high-energy fan favorites. Kaleo’s friendly reminder that “Pepper is not a reggae band. We’re a punk band that plays reggae.” His statement perfectly summed up the night’s blend of reggae grooves, punk attitude and non-stop fun. Even Jordan, their guitar tech, got into the fun playing Bret Bollinger’s bass during “Warning”, while Bret moved wildly onstage singing keeping the crowd hyped by, while Jeff Nisen took care of the backing vocals and keyboards.

Yee’s started his drum solo playing to the beat of “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” by Gary Glitter that quickly drew in the crowd. Kicking up the solo, Yee took the solo in a hilarious direction as he pulled out an actual block of cheese, I think it was Wisconsin not England, and grated it that covered his tom drums.

Chicago got to hear the live version of “End of the World” when song collaborators The Movement came up on stage to jam. The song marks Pepper’s first original single in nearly three years, giving fans hope that more new music and perhaps a new album is not far behind.

For more on Pepper, click here

For photos from the show, click here

Setlist

1. Ho’s

2. Give It Up

3. Rent

4. Bring Me Along

5. No Control

6. Your Face

7. Things That You Love

8. B.O.O.T.

9. Nice Time