PepperDome

Artist Information

Biography

After being behind the drums for 14 years, a point came where John Tokarczyk decided to explore his own musical ideas. So in the fall of 2005 after playing with several bands and musicians, he decided to take destiny into his own hands and started to build the foundation that would lead to the birth of PepperDome. With a vast interest in many musical styles, it was quickly apparent that this project would be very different than anything else John was involved in. Although most would categorize the music as rock, there are so many influences taken from around the world it is near impossible to categorize the sound created. After several years of creation, hard work, and lineup changes, Eric Bunton is the guitarist and Vattel Cherry is the bassist for PepperDome.

“Chaos Point”, the third installment in PepperDome’s journey, marks a stronger, more passionate, and an unmatched intensity than any of it’s predecessors. A chaos point can be seen as a point in one’s life to ponder, decide, and move forward in a new and different direction. This album has done just that. Be assured, the solid song writing, in your face lyrics, intensity, quirk, and power that was PepperDome is still here. “Chaos Point” takes that knowledge and reincarnates it into a newer stronger self. The song writing process is modified. The strength to say what needs to be said is larger. The musical strokes are broader. The entire presentation is brought to an entire new level.

“This is PepperDome’s chaos point”, John explains. “Everything we do in life eventually hits a point where things have to change or else there is a potential of becoming old and stale. All change creates new opportunities.” This music is the product of that opportunity. The music is lethal. It’s passion catches you right at your core and demands attention. Still riding at a faster tempo, the forceful dynamics are clear and fluent. The phrasing is new and exciting. What you hear will without a doubt get your attention.

Powerful messages will always be a part of every PepperDome installment. This one is no different. Although a short six song EP, “Chaos Point” touches on our abuse of sexuality with the media and our corrupt political system. There are also messages about taking a stand in your life, personal expression, and how someone else controlling your life can affect not only you, but also the people around you. “Chaos Point” is not for the lighthearted shallow souls. It is for the people that are tired of today’s society and are ready for change. In our current music environment PepperDome’s “Chaos Point” pushes the limits of what we are used to hearing. With passion and a clear message, “Chaos Point” will make you stop, listen, and think.

Instrumentation

John Tokarczyk - Vocals, Drums
Eric Bunton - Guitar
Vattel Cherry - Bass

Discography

Chaos Point (six song EP self release 2010)
Let’s Try The Otherside (self release 2009)
That Little Man (self release 2007)

Links

• MySpace
• Reverbnation
• Facebook

Audio

• Flesh
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• Chaos Point
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• Everyone Tells Me
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• Celebrity
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Lyrics

• Flesh
• Chaos Point
• Everyone Tells Me
• Celebrity

Video

10162011-iknow.mov

Photo Gallery

Press

• PepperDome – Chaos Point (CD) [+ Show ]
  

  “Flesh” reminds me of a Devo track. The same sort of angular post-punk rock is present in both the c...“Flesh” reminds me of a Devo track. The same sort of angular post-punk rock is present in both the classic Akron band as well as PepperDome, but there are noticeable differences between the former and the latter. Key of these would have to be an appreciation of all the music to come out after the former – hints of Gogol Bordello, Reel Big Fish, and even Against Me! can all be heard in this sub-three minute track. “Chaos Point” is a track that defies convention, using a very freeform jazz sort of time signature use while draping that framework in a rockabilly meets Wall of Voodoo type of sound. Throwing in brooding guitar lines a la “Bedtime for Democracy”-era Dead Kennedys, PepperDome ensures that the titular track on “Chaos Point” will make a big splash.
  
  “Everyone Tell Me” keeps listeners guessing about the band’s influences and loves, as the mid-track arrangements will immediately remind listeners of Pantera’s “Cemetery Gates” blended with hints of “Pablo Honey”-vintage Radiohead. Shifting tempo considerably through the track, listeners are dropped off at a place that is considerably different than they were at the beginning of the album. “I Know” is the track on “Chaos Point” that allows fans of mid-nineties alternative rock to rejoice. While that piece of PepperDome had been bubbling throughout the whole of “Chaos Point”, the band makes it a focal point of the track.
  
  After reviewing thousands of different releases over the course of the last 12 years, it becomes extraordinarily difficult to find releases that are innovative or different from the normal in any substantive way. However, the six pieces that comprise “Chaos Point” paint a picture of a band that marches to a considerably different drummer. I would personally like to see the band live, as I feel that it would give yet another scintillating look to the band. This EP has no comparison; pick it up if you’d like to understand what listeners thought when they bought their first Velvet Underground or Suicidal Tendencies album.
  
  Top Tracks: Chaos Point, Everyone Tells Me
  
  Rating: 8.0/10

• PepperDome, Chaos Point [+ Show ]
  

  I remember when I reviewed PepperDome’s last album Let’s Try The Other Side back in 2009 and I was l...I remember when I reviewed PepperDome’s last album Let’s Try The Other Side back in 2009 and I was left thinking what the hell did I just hear? PepperDome is back with a brand new EP titled Chaos Point. Get ready to fasten your seatbelt once again because PepperDome is taking you on one heck of a ride.
  The group is actually made up of one person by the name of John Tokarczyk. This one man is responsible for all vocals, guitar, bass and drums, so obviously an artist of many talents. PepperDome puts it all together in the most unconventional fashion where it’s really hard to decipher just what exactly is happening. With moments of hard rock and alternative bunched together with new wave and everything else in between, you will never know what to expect next from PepperDome. John Tokarczyk is creating musical chaos here and this is exactly what PepperDome thrives for.
  What I’m hearing on Chaos Point is similar in ways to that of their last record. Again I am witnessing standout performances on guitar, drums and bass just as I did on Let’s Try The Other Side. I am also hearing thought-provoking lyrics once again and that unorthodox style of singing still hangs around. PepperDome’s quirky vocal approach is something I couldn’t comprehend on the last album and the same goes for this EP as well. I do have to say that there was a slight improvement in the vocal department especially toward the end of the 6-track recording. On songs five and six, “Break” & “I Know”, I finally picked up on a sense of everything sort of coming together musically. The guitar and drums were workin’ it here and John’s singing almost seemed to fit the puzzle that is PepperDome.
  Once again I’m left hanging because I just can’t relate to PepperDome’s approach to singing verses. Maybe I just haven’t figured it out yet and PepperDome has got the last laugh, but it still doesn’t add up for me. I might suggest adding in some different singers to the mix just to see what happens; you might surprise even yourself. PepperDome is playing to the tune of uniqueness and creativity that would be hard to duplicate. You’ve got substance, you have guitar playing and drumming that are crazy good and finally you get PepperDome making a Chaos Point of no return.

• CD Review: PepperDome's 'Chaos' is Organized Fun [+ Show ]
  

  PepperDome's six-track 'Chaos Point' reaches into an eclectic bag of rock and slam poetry. Listen c...PepperDome's six-track 'Chaos Point' reaches into an eclectic bag of rock and slam poetry.
  Listen carefully to the six tracks on PepperDome's EP Chaos Point and the organized fun John Tokarcyzk concocted alongside Cheryl Alexander is somewhere between Frank Zappa and the raunchy soundtrack from Rockie Horror Picture Show. What fans love about the 'what are they going to say next?" B52s and the quirky rock sounds in Primus, listeners will surely embrace the organized chaos in PepperDome.
  
  The first song "Flesh" starts out with a statement - you know you're fine with you suddenly lose your mind, and jumps into this Pulp Fiction esque guitar riff. This song shakes it down - the bass throbbing alongside Tokarcyzk's deep voice. The drums on this track are punk and intrusive without being obnoxious. In its bio, PepperDome claims to be a derivative of Faith No More and there is no doubt PepperDome falls into this category. "Flesh" puts together a solid orchestration.
  
  Prepare For The Outlandish
  The title track is equally engaging and perplexing. Listeners should prepare themselves for some outlandish breaks, bizarre vocals and all out well-crafted guitar work. The percussion and bass are equally fantastic. Track three "Everyone Tells Me" has this bursting guitar riff mixed with a subtle poignant downtime. Head bangers get ready and slam poetry lyricists mind your posts. This song is a keeper.
  
  As the CD moves along, the same bass work is evident, but that is okay. The cadence is even more relished with the industrial guitar sounds. "Celebrity" is an unexpected jaunt into heavier rock territory. The guitar orchestration draws from some early 80s punk, and takes the listener to a dark space. Never mind the lyrics, the guitar work is too cool to ignore.
  
  In "Break" (track five), the speed slows just a bit. Tokarcyzk's voice is again at the forefront, but never overshadowed by the strong guitar riffs. While this song power-punches in its own way, it is not the best track.
  
  Track six "I Know" scratches through after a quick beginning. Tokarcyzk's voice insanely rids itself of boredom. It is almost as if the listener is Tokarcyzk's head and the nudging and tug-of-war between the drums and guitar force the listener to a spiral of rock and punk music. This song is not as exhausting as "Everyone Tells Me" but is higher on the scale than "Break."
  
  Solid A Review
  Overall, this CD gets a solid A. There is just something eclectic and weird that cannot be liked. Fans of Faith No More, Frank Zappa, Primus, The B52s (think way less pop) and Tool will embrace the arrangements and power punches PepperDome releases. They are way to bizarre not to like.
  

• PepperDome Interview [+ Show ]
  

  It takes guts to do what John Tokarczyk did – walk away from his 14 years of success as a drummer wi...It takes guts to do what John Tokarczyk did – walk away from his 14 years of success as a drummer with various bands to make music that goes against the normalcy we see throughout much of today’s scene. But in 2005, Tokarczyk created PepperDome, a decision that certainly didn’t take the singer/songwriter down an easy path. He says “It was difficult especially since some of the early material was a little out there. I don’t think most people got it. One of the reasons I started writing this project was because I could not find others that shared my musical vision. I also was disappointed in the new music coming out at that time. So when your vision goes against the grain it does make things a little difficult initially.”
  
  Fortunately, fans now understand the vibes that John is laying down, having already released two collections. His latest and third installment is titled “Chaos Point” and no one describes it better than Tokarczyk: “Expect to be challenged both musically and lyrically. Musically, the songs are high energy, unique, and a dynamic roller coaster. The entire album has a smooth flow like a well-written book, yet each song is distinctly different giving the listener an earful (unlike some albums that although good, hold the same intensity throughout). Yet lyrically it challenges people to look at the world and themselves with a different perspective to try to see the hidden truth that is right in front of you.”
  
  If you’re trying to gain some perspective through music, “Chaos Point” is your next purchase. There’s a lot to learn about the PepperDome project, so keep going for all the answers to the XXQ’s.

Setlist

Security
Flesh
Everyone Tells Me
Celebrity
I Know
Chaos Point
Lets Try the Otherside
Break
Wake UP
Just Like You

Basic Requirements

Calendar