It may come as a bit of a kick to hear the foot-stomping strains of country, folk and bluegrass coming through a rock band here in London, England.
But heartache, loss and regret have always been a cornerstone of great music and the East End has always had more than its fair share. In a corner of the city better known for thieves, hardluck and the occasional serial murder, anything as authentic and heartfelt as Peppercornrent comes as a bit of an unexpected surprise. With an arsenal of banjos, guitars, mandolin, fiddle, bass, and thundering bodhran, their sound is a wholesome brew of Thames mud, rusty nails and a pint of London gin. Its sincere, blunt and sexy as fcuk.
The songs sound as though they may have be sung for years and are sturdy enough to become heirlooms. They travel over some dark areas of twisted relationships, love and death, jealously and betrayal, violence and remorse, and of course gin, cigarettes and regret. what is it about the dark passion in these songs?
Peppercornrent effortlessly wield such wildly changing influences from rock, folk, alt.country, bluegrass to punk. The music weaves an incomprehensibly smooth and accessible sound for true believers and sceptics alike. Something happens when you hear these songs. Something in the music will find you, no matter where you're hiding.
Theres a diverse blend of personalities which combine to forge an exciting band that can fill a stage - and often most of the venue as well. Changes in pace, direction and energy are thick, fast and not necessarily anticipated. The band are equally as happy sitting in the beer garden surrounded by glasses, playing truly acoustically, as they are filling some of the larger venues and festival stages.
Peppercornrent is a bit of a big, predominantly acoustic, band playing some eclectic all-original material - sort of an alt.country, folk-rock, blues band - perhaps....