Article & Photos by: Linda Carlson
Louisville KY – So, who’s ready for a party? Upbeat, brimming with vitality and positivity? Pretty much everyone, I suspect. Well, head on over to a Less Than Jake concert and immerse yourself in an evening of music, laughter, some playful moshing, and general merriment, party-style.
Less Than Jake have entertained crowds with their ska punk tunes since 1992, and have maintained their on-stage chemistry with Chris DeMakes (lead vocals, guitar), Roger Lima (bass, vocals), Matt Yonker (drums), Buddy “Goldfinger” Schaub (trombone) and Peter “JR” Wasilewski (saxophone). Their punk-pop sound (c’mon! With a trombone and sax!) is upbeat and uplifting. A breath of fresh air in a world craving fresh air.
The band even invited two fans from the crowd to hang out with them on stage for the entire main set, seated in front of the drum kit. The first, a 15-year-old, was chided by DeMakes for his rather impressive mustache for such a young age, and the second man later asked for his wife/girlfriend to take his place on stage, but she was asked to join instead. Three fans on stage, just chilling with the band.
Throughout the set, bandmembers did everything they could to keep the celebration level high. Schaub, in particular, took long strides across the stage, trombone uplifted, encouraging the crowd to get rowdy. Light-hearted moshing erupted spontaneously, as well.
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the band’s 1998 third studio album, Hello Rockview, the band played the album from start to finish, reminiscing over collected memories, and closed with a hefty six-song encore, complete with band-provided balloons bouncing among the fans, as well as toilet paper shot into the crowd:
Last One Out of Liberty City
Help Save the Youth of America from Exploding
All My Best Friends Are Metalheads
Five State Drive
Nervous in the Alley
Motto
History of a Boring Town
Great American Sharpshooter
Danny Says
Big Crash
Theme Song for H Street
Richard Allen George… No, It’s Just Cheez
Scott Farcas Takes It on the Chin
Al’s War
Encore:
The Science of Selling Yourself Short
Lie to Me
Automatic
Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts
Gainesville Rock
Look What Happened
Opening the evening were rockers The Pink Spiders from Nashville, and ska punk band Voodoo Glow Skulls from Riverside, California (boasting a distinct Mighty Mighty Bosstones vibe).
Less Than Jake continues their tour. Check their website for a show near you: www.lessthanjake.com/shows
Take a look at the photo carousel below for more photos from the Louisville performances!