World Premiere

Gregory Pepper and His Problems

Smart Phones for Stupid People

Brandon Backhaus | March 7, 2016

Oh, Gregory Pepper. I can remember when you’re Problems first stole my innocent heart. It was way back in 2012’s Great Depression, when Ceschi and the rest of us whipper snappers used to walk uphill in the snow both ways and all we had to eat for dinner was poppa’s Common Grackle

You were my mantra, Sir Pep. Can I call you Pep? Peps, perhaps? You held my hand when the future shock of grindcore bpms became too much. You taught me, maaaaan, fuck every single fucking animal in the zoo. And I love you for that! 

I confess Gregory. Greg? That I lost my way up Crystal Skull Mountain. But now, now with this video, I’ve found you again. Like a hand in the dark. Like a holler from the head of the trail. Like a beacon of light at the end of the inky tunnel. 

I love how you shine lights. How you stick noses. And thumb them sometimes too. I love your invitations. 

2015’s CHORUS! CHORUS! CHORUS! finds Gregory Pepper & His Problems poking fun at sacred objects. Sticking tongues out at all the shiny objects we hold dear. Power pop with a side of profundity. Living Legend’s The Grouch said it best on “Simple Man”, “Get heated off some wax with a side of saying something.” 

“Smart Phones for Stupid People,” or how to explain to a time traveler from the past that in your palm you possess the entirety of human knowledge and use it to vomit rainbows. And Pepper does just that. 

Director Emma Corby masterfully weaves Ole Pep Diggety into memes and Instragram feeds, timelines and time-sucks. Snap Chats and Chat Roulettes. It’s like taking a selfie only to have the picture flip you off after you put that awful filter on it. 

Gregory Pepper & His Problems, you win the internet! FTW! 

This Friday 3/11, Gregory Pepper & His Problems, along with Ceschi, kick off a tour headed straight for South By Southwest: