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Less Than Jake

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 131.151.55.78 (talk) at 00:05, 11 May 2008 (→‎Studio albums: I'm moving B is for B-sides to the studio album section due to the fact that most fans consider it as such.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Less Than Jake

Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Originally formed in 1992 as a power pop trio, the band evolved into a hybrid of third-wave ska and punk pop, with added elements of modern rock and even metal. To date, the group has released seven original full-length albums and a number of singles and compilations. The current lineup comprises guitarist/vocalist Chris Demakes, bassist/vocalist Roger Manganelli, drummer/lyricist Vinnie Fiorello, trombonist Buddy Schaub, and saxophonist JR.

History

Origins

Before Less Than Jake, Vocalist and guitarist Chris Demakes and drummer Vinnie Fiorello led a local band named Good Grief with bassist Shaun Grief while attending high school in Port Charlotte, Florida. Good Grief broke up when Chris moved north to attend the University of Florida at Gainesville, Florida. On July 13th, 1992, what would become Less Than Jake was born. While Shaun moved to New York City (he would later return as the band's roadie), Chris and Vinnie started writing songs on the weekends before Vinnie joined Chris at the University of Florida.[1] When Vinnie arrived, the two decided they needed a bass player. But first, they wanted a name. Says Fiorello,

"We decided before we tried to get a bass player we'd zero in on a name for the "band" - to either (A) - make it seem like we had out [sic] shit together or (B) - make ourselves feel better. I think it was (B) or maybe it was just so I could write it over and over again on notebook paper during my anthropology class."[2]

They decided to name the band after the dog Vinnie's family had owned while growing up in New Jersey. An 80lbs. pit bull, the pet was treated far more generously by his parents than, indeed, Vinnie himself was. With its own spot on the couch and takeout food ordered specifically to feed it, most everything else in the house was dubbed as being "less than Jake."[3] Jake is also a term often used to describe something as good. After practicting with a different bass player for a couple of weeks, the band met Roger Manganelli, a guitarist who also attended the University of Florida. After Roger practiced with the band on guitar for a few hours, the band kicked the bass player out they'd been practicing for a couple of weeks and asked Roger to play the bass with them. Citing influence from Snuff, the band decided they wanted to add a horn section. In 1993, the group added their first horn player, Jessica Mills, and releasd their first 7" record, Smoke Spot, hand pressing all 300 records themselves. Soon after, trombone player Buddy Schaub joined the band. Over the first few years, the band put out their first EP, Better Class Of Losers, made compilation appearances, and released several vinyl records (some of which would later appear on Losers, Kings, and Things We Don't Understand compilation, before Mike Park agreed to release the band's debut album on Dill Records. Right before the band's first U.S. tour in June 1995 with Skankin' Pickle, Schaub had already made plans to travel to Europe with his friends. The band found a temporary replacement in saxophonist Derron Nuhfer, who filled in for Schaub during his absence. After speculation that Derron would (and then wouldn't) join the band, Derron became a permanent member in August 1995.

Less Than Jake's first full length LP Pezcore debuted in August 1995, featuring such staples as Liquor Store and My Very Own Flag. Originally on Dill Records, the CD contained 21-tracks, including two covers of TV theme songs Jeffersons and Laverne and Shirley (which were omitted on the 2002 reissue through Fueled By Ramen Records). The title of the album stemmed from Roger and Vinnie's unexplained fondness for PEZ candy, clearly apparent in their reportedly sizable Pez dispenser collections. The name is partly a homage to their obsession and partly a parody of the way in which many bands are described as [something]-core. Ever since, Pez dispenser motifs have been a common feature of Less Than Jake's merchandise.

Commercial growth

Shortly following the release of Pezcore, the band was signed to Capitol Records. They debuted on the major label in 1996 with Losing Streak. The album was full of the band's wry, fast-paced brand of ska-punk anthems, producing such fan favorites as "Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts," "Jen Doesn't Like Me Anymore," and "Automatic". Following the 1997 Warped Tour, saxophonist Jessica Mills left to pursue teaching, and was later replaced by ex-Slapstick trombonist Pete Anna in January 1998 (trombonist Lars Nylander served as a fill-in during the fall of 1997). Around this time, Vinnie Fiorello also started his own record label, Fueled by Ramen, with friend John Janick, as a means to find and promote up-and-coming bands that he himself would want to hear. During 1997, the band embarked on the Caffeine Nation Tour with the Descendents, Guttermouth, and Handsome, the Race Around Uranus Tour with Blink-182 and Frenzal Rhomb, and the Warped Tour.

In 1998, after participating in the Ska Against Racism Tour with such ska acts as The Toasters and Mustard Plug, and the Warped Tour, the band releaseHello Rockview. and included such staple songs as "All My Best Friends Are Metalheads" and "Help Save the Youth of America from Exploding". The band even spawned a minor college radio hit with "History of a Boring Town." Followin the album, tensions started to grow with Capitol. There were disagreements over various issues, including doing a video for "History of a Boring Town" and the bandselling two CDs, Bootleg a Bootleg, You Cut Out The Middle Man and Goodbye Blue and White, through mailorder only. After recording what would be Borders & Boundaries, the band opted to buyout their contract from Capitol and release the new album on Fat Wreck Chords.

In September 2000, the band released Borders & Boundaries, as well as landing the opening spot on Bon Jovi's North American Fall tour. While neither as commercially successful or musically appreciated as previous releases, the album was a display of significant growth for the band, showcasing much more mature music than the band had ever shown before. Still, the album provided fans with two instant hits in "Look What Happened" (which recevied minor airplay on college stations) and their hometown anthem, "Gainesville Rock City (which recevied some airtime on MTV2)." Shortly after the album's recording, Derron Nuhfer left the band (going on to join Gunmoll and later Escape Grace; he currently plays bass for Cutman, a Gainesville-based rock band featuring ex members of Escape Grace and Unitas), and Less Than Jake found a replacement in the ashes of another ska band, this time ex-Spring Heeled Jack U.S.A. saxophonist, Pete Wasilewski. To avoid the confusion provided by having two Peters within the band, the second Pete Wasilewski was dubbed JR (as in 'Peter Junior'). He still goes by JR even following the departure of the first Pete after the 2001 Warped Tour.

In 2002, Less Than Jake spent time touring with Bad Religion and Hot Water Music while spending most of the summer touring in Europe. Less Than Jake rereleased their compilation album, Goodbye Blue and White, which included various 7" releases spanning from 1996-2001, and provided a different tracklisting from the first pressing. The album was named in honor of their original tour van, with the liner notes having the band recounting memories of the van. To celebrate the band's 10th year anniversary, Pezcore was rerelased and the band's first four 7", Smoke Spot, Pez Kings, Unglued, and Rock-n-Roll Pizzeria, were repressed and included in a limited edition Cereal Box (which also featured a t-shirt, bobblehead, and pin).

Less Than Jake returned to major label status with their next album Anthem, releasing the 2003 LP on Warner Bros./Sire Records. It featured hit singles in both the US and the UK, with "She's Gonna Break Soon" (which spent a couple weeks on TRL), "The Science Of Selling Yourself Short" (#37 Hot 100[4]), and "The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out" featuring Billy Bragg (UK Top 40). Actress Alexis Bledel, known for her role as Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls appeared in the video for She's Gonna Break Soon, where she played the unnamed subject of the song, an angst teen girl who has a nervous breakdown, and destroys her bedroom over the course the song. After spending time touring on the Warped Tour and gaining support from Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard, and Bang Tango, the band released B Is for B-sides in July 2004. The album comprised tracks that didn't make Anthem's final cut. The DVD retrospective The People's History of Less Than Jake appeared a month later, featuring both professional and bootleg recordings of the band. The band also held the opening spot on the main stage during the Projekt Revolution tour in the summer of 2004 with Linkin Park, Snoop Dogg, and The Used before taking a long break to write their next record.

Recent activity

After spending the majoirty of 2005 writing and recording, the band opened 2006 with a bang, going on a full U.S. and Europe tour with Catch 22, A Wilhelm Scream, The Loved Ones, The New Mexican Disaster Squad, Rock-n-Roll Soldiers, Damone, Dropkick Murphys, and Far From Finished. In April 2006, the band released its four-song Absolution for Idiots and Addicts (EP), with their next full-length, In with the Out Crowd, following a month later on Sire Records. The album was also issued in a limited edition that came in a leather-bound case complete with bonus multimedia discs that contained a plethora of music videos, bonus tracks and an elaborate photo gallery.

In February 2007, Less Than Jake played six shows in Florida that each featured the band playing one of their albums in its entirety, plus b-sides and rarities. They played at three venues with each venue featuring two shows to be recorded for a possible DVD release. The records performed were Borders and Boundaries, Pezcore, Losing Streak, Anthem, Hello Rockview, and In with the Out Crowd. They then did the same in London, United Kingdom, in September 2007, playing at the Mean Fiddler for 6 nights in a row.

On 21 May 2007, after much speculation, Vinnie Fiorello announced on his blog that the band had asked and granted their release from their contract with Sire Records and Warner Brothers. Following this split, the band released five high quality (MP3, 320kbit/s), DRM-free, unedited recordings of their live shows, taken directly from the mixing console at each show. These recordings are being released for sale on the band's website via Snocap. During 6 Albums / 6 Shows / 6 Nights in London, Chris stated that Less Than Jake's new record label was Cooking Vinyl in the UK and Europe.

In the summer 2007, Less Than Jake embarked on a North American tour co-headlining with Reel Big Fish, featuring support from Streetlight Manifesto and Against All Authority. During the shows, the band held a spoof of The Price is Right, quizing the contestants, having them play a few games from the shows, and giving prizes to the winners. The band reunited with Reel Big Fish and Streetlight Manifesto for a Japan and Australia in December 2007.

On January 8, 2008, after speculation that the next Less Than Jake record could be released on Fat Wreck Chords or Victory Records, CMJ reported that the band was starting their own label, named Sleep It Off Records, the name taken from the title of a song from the B is for B-sides record. The purpose of the new label is to release the band's forthcoming album in summer 2008 and to reissue their back catalog. Reissues of Goodbye Blue And White, Pezcore, Losers, Kings And Things We Don't Understand, and the DVD Peoples History Of Less Than Jake were released on March 18th. The reissues include new artworks and bonus DVDs.[5]

Less Than Jake is currently locked into the Shout It Loud Two tour this summer, touring with Goldfinger, Big D and the Kids Table, Mustard Plug, Suburban Legends, and Westbound Train on various dates.

Upon talking about their new album, Vinnie mentioned his desire to "combine third wave ska and pop punk in each song,"[5] hinting at a possible return to the band's older sound. He also had the following to say:

When you are in a pop punk band in your 16th year, sometimes you don't fit in the modern music industry. You need to be a shiny new penny. We didn't feel like the rest of our years as a band should fit in that narrow parameter. ... All I do know is that we're writing songs now and they seem to have the spirit of a tempo in mind, all very speedy but once we hit the record button they may be slower.[5]

In a March 2008 press release pertaining to Vinnie's new record label Paper + Plastick, Vinnie stated that the band was currently in Chicago recording their new album, slated for a June 24, 2008 release date. On the 20th of April Vinnie announced via his blog that the new album, recorded at Atlas Studios in Chicago, is totally finished. On April 23rd, Vinnie revealed the title of the album would be GNV FLA (an abbreviation of the band's hometown of Gainesville, Florida). Even though the band has played shows since the album's recording, Less Than Jake still continues to play old songs, deciding to hold off on breaking in the new songs.

Side projects

Vinnie and his friend John Janick started up the independent record label Fueled by Ramen, which Vinnie has recently left. On May 13, 2008, Vinnie will launch his new indie label, called Paper + Plastick. In the press release, Vinnie stated the inspiration for the name; "If you think about it, prints and books are the paper side, while vinyl records and toys are the plastic side. It’s a simple and to-the-point concept." The label is currently slated to release new albums; a concept album from Andrew Dost, The Landmines debut album, and the final release from The Explosion.

Vinnie also owns a toy company called Wünderland War, originally called Monkey VS Robot. The name was changed due to legal issues. Vinnie has also started a second toy company with a friend called Symptoms. Many of these toys have featured in art books and shows.

Roger has a side-project called Rehasher, who have recorded an album Off Key Melodies on Gainesville based record label No Idea Records. He plays guitar (not bass) for Rehasher, and is also their lead singer. JR was featured playing saxophone in the last track from the album.

JR composes his own solo music on top of working with a promoting company called the CT Mafia. He contributed one track to the Drive-Thru Records tribute to Bob Dylan, under the name "The Stay at Home Joneses" which also featured secondary vocals by Roger.

In 1996, Vinnie, Chris, and Roger served as backup musicians for Asian Man Records owner Mike Park in The Bruce Lee Band (former sax player Derron also provided horns on some of the tracks).

Buddy is involved in a side band called PB&J; in which he provides the bass, vocals and occasional trombone, as well as the bands Black Ice that he plays all instruments for and another band called Coffee Project.

Chris has been recording his own solo music while not working with Less Than Jake.

Former bassist Shaun Grief joined hardcore punk band Victim Youth out of Fort Myers, FL in 2007. The band's first album is expected sometime in 2008.

Personnel

Current members

Past members

  • Shaun Grief - bass
  • Jessica Mills - alto saxophone
  • Derron Nuhfer - tenor and baritone saxophones
  • Pete Anna - alto trombone

Guest musicians

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Label US Chart Position
1995 Pezcore Dill/Asian Man Records -
1995 Losers, Kings, and Things We Don't Understand No Idea Records -
1996 Losing Streak Capitol Records 18 (Heatseekers)[6]
1997 Greased (Repress 2000) No Idea Records -
1998 Hello Rockview Capitol Records 80[7]
2000 Borders & Boundaries Fat Wreck Chords 103[8]
2003 Anthem Sire Records 45[9]
2004 B is for B-sides Sire 157[10]
2006 In with the Out Crowd Warner Bros. Records 78[11]
2008 GNV FLA Sleep It Off (US) / Cooking Vinyl Records (UK) -

Singles

Year Title US Chart UK Chart
1999 "History of a Boring Town" 39 -
2000 "All My Best Friends Are Metalheads" - 51[12]
2001 "Gainesville Rock City" - 57[13]
2003 "She's Gonna Break Soon" - 39[14]
2003 "The Science Of Selling Yourself Short" 37 78
2006 "Overrated (Everything Is) / A Still Life Franchise" (double A-side) - 61[15]
2006 "The Rest of My Life / Don't Fall Asleep On The Subway (double A-Side)" - 77
2006 "P. S. Shock The World" - 96

Vinyls and 7"

Title Label
AAA/LTJ split 7" Far Out Records
All My Best Friends Are Metalheads 7" Golf Records
All My Best Friends Are Metalheads Jukebox 7" Capitol Records
Birthday Cake 7" Fueled by Ramen
Birthday Cake 7" (Moldy) Fueled by Ramen
Borders & Boundaries LP Fat Wreck Chords
Cheese 7" Fueled by Ramen
Cheese 7" (Moldy) Fueled by Ramen
Chicago Halloween 7" Fueled by Ramen
Crash Course in Being an Asshole 7" Rhetoric Records
Crash Course in Being an Asshole Picture Disc Rhetoric Records
Dopeman / Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts Jukebox 7" Capitol Records
Food Not Bombs 7" Fueled by Ramen
G-Man Training Target 7" What Else? Records
G-Man/Crash Course in Being an Asshole double 7" Rhetoric Records
Goodbye Blue and White LP No Idea Records
Greased LP No Idea Records
Hello Rockview Box Set Capitol Records
Hello Rockview LP Liberation Records
Hello Rockview Picture Disc Drive-Thru Records
I Think I Love You 7" Flexi Capitol Records
J Church/LTJ split 7" Dead Beat Records
Kemuri/LTJ split 7" Fueled By Ramen
Kemuri/LTJ double split 7" Fueled By Ramen
Live From Chicago 7" Capitol Records
Liverache: Tales From the Livers' Edge double LP Very Small Records
Losers, Kings, and Things We Don't Understand LP No Idea Records
Losing Streak Picture Disc No Idea Records
Losing Streak b/w Mixology of Tom Collins 5" No Idea Records
Madison 8" Flexi
 Fueled by Ramen
Making Fun of Things You Don't Understand 10" Far Out Records
Megadeth/LTJ split 7" Fueled by Ramen
Megadeth/LTJ split 7" (Europe) Fueled by Ramen
Muppets 7" Liquid Meat Records
Pesto 7" Too Many Records
Pez Kings 7" Toybox Records
Pezcore LP Rhetoric Records
Pezcore LP (Special Edition) Fueled by Ramen
Pezcore Picture Disc Rhetoric Records
Pung/LTJ split 7" No Idea Records
Punk TV LP Red Dawg Records
Rock-n-Roll Pizzeria 7" No Idea Records
Rock-n-Roll Pizzeria 7" (Japan) Nat Records
Slayer 7" No Idea Records
Smoke Spot 7" No Idea Records
Songs About Drinking double LP Too Many Records
Sprocket Wheel/LTJ Split 7" Snuffy Smile Records
Theme for Yo-Yo Ninja Boy 7" Flexi Erika Records
Three Way Split 7" Toybox Records
Unglued 7" No Idea Records
Viva La Vinyl vol. #2 LP Dead Beat Records
Wood Panel Pacer Wagon with Mags LP + 7" Too Many Records

Other

Compilations, live records, miscellaneous releases

Year Title Label US Chart Position
1994 Better Class Of Losers (EP) Fueled By Ramen -
1997 Bootleg a Bootleg, You Cut Out the Middleman Self-Released -
1998 Liverache - Tales from the Liver's Edge Very Small Records -
1999 Pesto (EP) Very Small Records -
1999 Live from Uranus EMI -
2000 The Pez Collection Moon Ska Europe and Rapido -
2001 All My Best Friends Live In Gainesville Golf -
2002 Goodbye Blue and White Fueled By Ramen 36[16]
2003 Live From The Santa Monica Store (EP) iTunes -
2004 Live in Minneapolis (download only) -
2005 B is for B-sides (Remixed) Fueled By Ramen -
2006 Absolution for Idiots and Addicts (EP) Sire -

Self-Released Live Shows

Year Title Label
2007 Bizarre Festival - 08.19.2001 Self-Released via Snocap
2007 Glastonbury Festival - 06.29.2002 Self-Released via Snocap
2007 Tokyo, Japan - 10.22.2002 Self-Released via Snocap
2007 Hollywood, CA - 06.14.2003 Self-Released via Snocap
2007 London, England - 04.20.2004 Self-Released via Snocap

DVD

Year Title Label
2004 The People's History of Less Than Jake Fueled By Ramen

VHS

Year Title Label
2002 Avant Tarde Fueled By Ramen

Songs contributed to compilations and soundtracks for films and video games

Title Contributed to Label, Year
Liquor Store Songs About Drinking Very Small Records, 1995
My Very Own Flag Closer Than You, Vol. 1: Florida Ska Moon Ska Records, 1996
The Summer Of '69 Wood Panel Pacer Wagon With Mags Very Small Records, 1996
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer It's a Punk and Ska Christmas Gone Wrong Drive Thru Records, 1997
Cheese Liverache': Tales From The Livers' Edge Very Small Records, 1997
We're All Dudes (Feat. Kel Mitchell) Good Burger 1997
I Think I Love You (The Partridge Family Cover) Scream 2 1997
All My Best Friends Are Metalheads Street Sk8er EA Sports, 1998
Digimon: The Movie 2000
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 2002
Sugar in Your Gas Tank Street Sk8er EA Sports, 1998
Help Save the Youth of America From Exploding Drive Me Crazy 1999
Anchor Short Music for Short People Fat Wreck Chords, 1999
Surrender (Cheap Trick Cover) ATV Offroad Fury Sony, 2001
Motown Never Sounded So Good ATV Offroad Fury Sony, 2001
Faction Uncontrollable Fatulence Fat Wreck Chords, 2002
Look What Happened Grind 2003
The Ghosts Of Me and You NHL 2004 EA Sports, 2003
Scooby Doo
Short Fuse Burning Gran Turismo 4 Sony, 2004
That's Why They Call It A Union Tony Hawk's Underground 2 2004
The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out (Feat. Billy Bragg) Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 Fat Wreck Chords, 2004
Bridge and Tunnel Authority Project Gotham Racing 3
A Still Life Franchise Madden 07 EA Sports, 2006

See also

References

  1. ^ Less Than Jake Official Website Interview Accessed 03 September 2007
  2. ^ Less Than Jake Official Website History Accessed 03 September 2007
  3. ^ Less Than Jake Official Website FAQ Accessed 03 September 2007
  4. ^ Billboard Music Charts Hot-100 Week of 8/9/03 Accessed 04 September 2007
  5. ^ a b c Darmanin, Rachael. "Less Than Jake Launch Label." CMJ. January 1, 2008.
  6. ^ AllMusic Charts: Losing Streak Accessed 19 October 2007
  7. ^ AllMusic Charts: Hello Rockview Accessed 19 October 2007
  8. ^ AllMusic Charts: Borders & Boundaries Accessed 19 October 2007
  9. ^ AllMusic Charts: Anthem Accessed 19 October 2007
  10. ^ AllMusic Charts: B is for B-Sides Accessed 19 October 2007
  11. ^ AllMusic Charts: In With the Out Crowd Accessed 19 October 2007
  12. ^ Polyhex UK Singles: (requires search) Accessed 19 October 2007
  13. ^ Polyhex UK Singles: (requires search) Accessed 19 October 2007
  14. ^ Polyhex UK Singles: (requires search) Accessed 19 October 2007
  15. ^ Polyhex UK Singles: (requires search) Accessed 19 October 2007
  16. ^ AllMusic Charts: Goodbye Blue and White Accessed 19 October 2007
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