Live Show Review: Less Than Jake

Less Than Jake @ House of Blues, 12/06/2009

A group known as Less Than Jake, maybe you’ve heard of them, has been around for 17 years and counting. Chris (vocals/guitar), Roger (bassist/guitar), JR (saxophone), Buddy (trombone), Vinnie (drums), have established a solid resume on what it takes to be a successful band. While playing at the House of Blues in San Diego I was able to bask in the ambiance of their die hard followers, which ranged from pre pubescent boys and girls to those border lining on a mid life crisis. The boys of Less Than Jake demonstrated the steps to a successful show. Some key factors involved a random guy dressed in a suit ska dancing on stage throwing a hefty bag full of merchandise into the crowd and calling them “Fucking heathen, sons of bitches” for fighting. Chris begging the bouncers to not kick out any overheated fans because “There’s no fighting on the Lords Day” and advising avid tobacco users to switch to marijuana because “If you're still smoking tobacco in a marijuana legal state then you guys are fucking retarded.”  And, finally mocking San Diego for not allowing alcohol on stage while Roger pulls a beer from his cozy conveniently attached to his mic stand.
Aside from the clear ability to keep a crowd visually entertained, every new song that blasted through the amplifiers kept a rotating frenzy for everyone in the venue. While playing some of their best hits, to some tunes that are only known to true fans, it seemed as though it didn’t matter whether you knew the lyrics or not.  Drunken fans in the 21 + section found ways to mosh in the second story to show their support by nearly breaking off the railings and tossing full 32 oz. beer cans towards the stage.

Overall, the almost two decade group are still doing what they set out to do and drinking away with every show. If you’re looking for a good old booze fest with great tunes and potty mouthed masters of music put a Less than Jake show on the top of your list.

Narrative and Photo by Melissa Moreno