Juno Week and JunoFest featuring the Beauties, Kevin Drew, Classified, Harlan Pepper

By Michelle | Published: March 29, 2011

exclaim.ca

…Warming the Dakota were hotly tipped Hamilton rockers Harlan Pepper. Still a very young band, they’re improving in leaps and bounds. The group mostly played material from their recent debut disc, Young and Old, with the catchy “Reefer” and “Great Lakes” standing out as the group mixed psychedelic freak-outs with roots rock in a captivating fashion. Read More »

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Harlan Pepper Young and Old

By Michelle | Published: March 21, 2011

Robert Reid, NightLife staff, TheRecord.com

…The quartet recalls the days of old-time, country soul decked out in hip, rock rags reminiscent of artists spanning Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers to early Jeff Tweedy and Wilco. Read More »

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Scarily impressive debut from new young Americana outfit

By catfish | Published: March 14, 2011

Jeremy Searle, AmericanaUK

Harlan Pepper are the sort of band that give other musicians nightmares. Barely out of school, they play and sing with a maturity well beyond their years with the sort of casual skill that many musicians decades older haven’t achieved yet. Their debut album is appropriately titled; they’re young, but much of the music feels old, as if it had been around for decades, even centuries, drifting through the backwoods, hollers and mountains of rural America. Read More »

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Harlan Pepper – Young and Old

By catfish | Published: February 23, 2011

Old School – The Ripple Effect

These up and coming, deadly talented, barely post-pubescent, BC Dinner Jacket and Bunny Hug clad Canucks are Harlan Pepper – a band named after Christopher Guest’s backwoods North Carolina bloodhound raising character in his 2000 movie “Best In Show.” The band (Jimmy Hayes (guitar, pedal steel, harmonica), Dan Edmonds (banjo, keys, vocals), Thompson Wilson (bass, vocals), Marlon Nicolle (drums, vocals)) was formed by kids at Westdale High School in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They’re still hitting the homo milk and are not yet old enough to buy a two-six. Read More »

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Harlan Pepper Take Young and Old Debut on Ontario Tour

By Michelle | Published: February 14, 2011

By Andrew Pham – exclaim.ca

Charming Hamilton, ON folk act Harlan Pepper are hitting the road in support of their debut album, Young and Old. The tour kicks off today (February 15) in Toronto and spans across Ontario, with one stop set for Quebec.

Harlan Pepper’s Young and Old, which will officially be self-released on February 22, was recorded at Vibewrangler Studio with Aaron Goldstein (Huron, Espanola). According to the press release, the band, who are barely out of high school, have made “an album that channels the ghosts of long-gone AM car radios and haunts the dusty aisles of small town vinyl record bins.”

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Harlan Pepper – Young and Old

By Michelle | Published: February 7, 2011

Catherine Lacbay – buying shots for bands

Young and Old’s opening tune, “Great Lakes”, is a little more bluegrass than the rest of the album, and really exemplifies great Canadian songwriting, highlighted by some fancy work on the harmonica. In addition to bluegrass, the album touches upon folk, country, blues, and rock. “El Jandro” is a mellower folk tune, featuring some great group chanted vocals, while “Yeah” is a little more rockin’ than most of the other tunes. It’s also one of the longer tunes, second only to the album closer “Burnout”, both featuring some heavier riffage and solo work. Plus they’re also bold enough to put out “Reefer” and I’ve gotta give them credit for that. This album is consistently good, weaving through different influences but all tied together by great songwriting and a rootsy classic sound. Read More »

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Harlan Pepper at the Horseshoe

By Michelle | Published: February 6, 2011

Benjamin Boles – NOW Magazine

Hamilton country rockers Harlan Pepper weren’t exaggerating when they cracked that their debut CD was titled Young And Old because the age of the fans at their shows tends to be either “under 18 or over 50.”

The younger side is represented by all the members, who are under the drinking age, and the over-50 contingent has something to do with the fact that bass man Thompson Wilson is the son of Hamilton rock veteran Tom Wilson. Expect that missing middle range to catch up with these guys soon, since they’re far more than a cute novelty act.

They just snagged two Hamilton Music Awards, which isn’t at all surprising once you’ve heard them. After just a few songs, you forget how odd it is to see such young musicians successfully channel 60s and 70s folk rock sounds. Once over the initial shock, though, it’s obvious that they’ve got the chops to pull it off better than many bands who’ve spent decades trying for the same vibe.

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Harlan Pepper, Young and Old

By Michelle | Published: February 5, 2011

Julie – hangin’ out in 100b

Why: Because “Great Lakes” is totally awesome. Seriously, it’s a fantastic track – just all-around great. Good lyrics, nice wordplay going on with the lake names, and it weirdly makes me feel like home. I guess because Pittsburgh is near Lake Erie – and by ‘near’ I can only mean ‘nearer than I am right now’ because it’s all relative and stuff – or something, it just feels familiar like home. Anyway … I’ve enjoyed Young and Old, Harlan Pepper’s debut, but I should admit that I think “Great Lakes” really is the standout track. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with the rest of this very young band’s album – “Reefer” is pretty great as well – but I think Harlan Pepper is still trying out styles to see how they fit and not all of it is as successful as “Great Lakes” is. Their music doesn’t feel like a cohesive whole yet, but Young and Old definitely has moments that point to potential I’ll like to see develop. Read More »

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January Monthly Music

By Michelle | Published: February 1, 2011

Jessica Lewis – Dork Shelf

Harlan Pepper – Hailing from Hamilton, these relatively young rockers (just out of high school) took me by surprise. You can be a little skeptical (or amused) when you see song titles “Reefer,” “Yeah” and “Burnout,” but by golly, these boys are a piece of work. Sure, their lyrics can be cheeky, but not in an immature way, especially when their music feels so grown-up (plus, the album is conveniently titled Young and Old). They also take part in those classic keyboards, which are fueled by some strong drumming, light, bluesy guitars and paired with a few great sets of vocal pipes.

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Bob Mersereau at the Hamilton Music Awards

By catfish | Published: February 1, 2011

Bob Mersereau’s Top 100 Canadian Blog

Hats off to the organizers of The Hamilton Music Awards, and the music community of that strong city. Once again, it was a fine celebration of the city’s scene, in a place that begs to be discovered and honoured by the rest of the country. This is the third time in the past four years I’ve been invited to attend the event, and each year I come away with a huge respect for the work being done there, so often overshadowed by the attention payed to Toronto. And Toronto, to its shame, continues to largely ignore both the legacy, and the strong talent base there.

Yet, oddly, the musicians who either come from the area or have chosen to move there, are a good part of the backbone of today’s music scene. There’s Luke Doucet, for instance, the winner of the Album of the Year. And of course, the heart and soul of Hamilton, Tom Wilson, who has given so much through his career, from The Florida Razors to Junkhouse to Blackie and the Rodeo Kings to his latest project, Lee Harvey Osmond. His son Thompson is part of the excellent new group Harlan Pepper. I finally got to see this band live, what an incredible show, with these kids playing and signing roots music like they were 50-year old vets, but with an excited young audience jumping up front. Read More »

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