Thurs, May 12, Pepper

Pepper is the kind of band you wish you could hang out with. Originally from Hawaii, the trio began in 1997 in the “third wave” of ska. Pepper leans toward primal edginess, like its third-wave contemporaries Rancid and Sublime. It also omits a horn section, for a smoother sound than ska bands Less Than Jake or Reel Big Fish. What sets the guys apart is that their surfer-punk attitude is balanced with a laid-back island reggae vibe, which seeps into slower tunes like “Tradewinds” and “Crazy Love.” Skateboard down to the show, brahs. It’s da kine you don’t want to miss. 1417 R Street, www.pepperlive.com.