The Band Pepita Slappers originates from the Umea area and when I get to meet them for the first time we are in Sala. It’s the last of April celebrations and we are to both perform in front of jolly spring breakers at the local water hole. Join us backstage. Text&Photo: Ellen Kay Krantz.
Behind the scenes
The time’s half past six, the rain is pouring down from an open sky and the driveway has transformed into a mud wrestling arena. A low pitch rumbles and soon after a heavy loaded van enters the dirt area.
Not three, neither four, but five guys in their twenties smoothly pop out of the van looking like something from a cartoon. With hefty steps we walk towards each other and meet in the middle of the arena, shake hands and with crooked smiles they as for the restrooms since they have driven breakeles from Umea to Sala.
I spy overalls and yardsticks, Diesel jeans and t-shorts, leather jackets and thick Blue Navy jackets in a tumbling rumble. They don’t say much, mostly expressions of gratitude and enjoyment.
They work fast and effectively, Taylor would have been proud, watching them troll in a line with instrument and PA system towards the stage. Robin Wastle, guitar, got picked up straight off work and a yardstick is reaching for the sky as he adjusts the pedal case.
Cool Groovers
The Norrland stereotype of smooth languorous is personified. Very few people can say so much with so few words. I myself originate from Norrland but I’m standing there, hat in hand, wide-eyed, ears sharp in front of this amazing group. They’ve got flow, a communication rhythm and a group dynamic that leaves me all hot and bothered. Soon characteristics of the gang emerge.
Robin Wastle. Photo:Anna Lantz.
Band members
Bjorn Eriksson, the happy-go-lucky mischievous drummer with extra screws in his pocket and tools in the car. Keyboardist David Andersson with well precisioned one-liners and a very Zen-feeling. I bet he jumps in when the Garmin is out of juice. Hot bass player Alex Larsson has a stay-clear plan and executes tasks with precision. Jesper Andersson, the lead singer is quite eccentric and brings a sort of southern spice to the group. As the stage work is progressing he hangs back to watch. Guitarist Robin Wästle doesn’t fool anyone with his doe-eyed look and soft attitude. He finishes off last set with three punk’ed up songs delivered with plenty of aggressive singing and vast gestures.
Backstage
Backstage they take a seat in wide leather seats with newly greased hair and lukewarm beer.
Cool Bjorn. Photo: Anna Lantz
Prepping for gig and pre party is one of the same things that are fitted into the tight schedule. The dialogue is simmering like the overflowing beer spilling on wrinkly pant legs and gets wiped off with unconscious movements. As I’m leaning onto my back on the floor and watch the flash cover the Norrlandic beauty the young age of these men apparently comes into light. The camera display shows young men stretching in a huge sofa. Words delivered with wide accents whilst guzzling down tepid drinks is something I confuse with the affirmative: -“shup”. Extremely confusing by the way. The sweet, cool guys are in this moment just that, with the faux leather sofa eating them up.
- Jesper Andersson, lead, says being the centre of attention isn’t really his thing.
- David Andersson – The living Garmin and man in full control.
- Bass Alex – Delivering punch lines as snappy as Norrlandicly possible.
Right in this moment I see something precious, young and noticeable youthful. The giant sofa is in a way eating them up and the beer looks disproportionally dangerous in their precious hands. But the contrast shown 20 minutes later mirrored in the light of the flash when they are on stage is huge. That’s when they overtake the stage and that space looks way to small for the huge guys from Norrland.
They are in command, not just of the stage but of the dance floor. They’ve got it all: pathos, charisma and a sense of ownership is spread through Strangnas were we now are. It’s called snapshot and quick editing, keep up. We’re not longer in Sala but in Strangnas, the girls in their wide but pleasantly short skirts dancing whilst running hands through the hair and twisting, leaning in to the stage sending seductive eyes to the men in command.
The laidback, cool guys have transformed into their other roll: Mad Men. We welcome Don Draper and his colleagues.
Lead – Jesper Andersson. Photo:Anna Lantz
The performed music is exactly what eyelinered eyes want to hear. The raw, sweaty, sensual rock’n’roll generations before us was stricken by. The climate of today is different but we are just as mesmerized by the awesome, testosterone jacked up party taking place on stage.
If you get a chance to see the smooth rollers in Pepita Slappers.
– Do it.
Ja dom är bäst helt enkelt <3
Från första tonen jag hörda av Pepita Slappers har jag varit fast, bor själv utanför Umeå så jag har den stora lyckan att kunna vara på många av deras spelningar :)