Pop-Break Live: Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish

Reel Big Fish

Sometimes, there is simply no excuse for missing a band perform, especially when someone like Reel Big Fish visits New Jersey almost twice a year. Honestly, I’m just thankful that I could finally cross this concert off my bucket list. As I search for the right words to perfectly encapsulate this euphoric bliss of ska energy – something as simple as “Wow!” seems fitting. Here’s a comparison – watching Reel Big Fish perform was the equivalent of partying in the middle of Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras. When the group tore through classics like “Your Guts (I Hate ‘Em),” 2,000 people simultaneously screamed out the words, “I hate your guts/ And I think you suck!” As the horn section incorporated some synchronized dance moves from “Saturday Night Fever,” audience members waved their fingers towards the sky like John Travolta.

Make no mistake; I also found myself beyond impressed by Reel Big Fish’s musicality as they effortlessly incorporated covers like Darth Vader’s “Imperial March,” Journey’s “Don’t Step Believin’,” and The Offspring’s “Self-Esteem” into their own material. The metalhead inside me even lost my mind after the band put forth a valiant effort replicating some authentic death metal. Vocalist/Guitarist Aaron Barrett is such an incredible guitar player – his arsenal of lead techniques combined with his ear for melody creates an immediately recognizable style. Barrett’s colorful jacket even included the phrase, “Don’t Stop Skanking!” The connotation of this message served its purpose- the skank pits were absolutely insane – dare I say some of the biggest that I’ve ever seen, especially when the band played “Another F.U. Song,” “She Has A Girlfriend Now,” and “Sell Out. “

Once Reel Big Fish finished up their set, the entire crowd was on cloud nine after an hour’s worth of brilliance on stage. This is why Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish work together so well – it wasn’t a scenario where Less Than Jake faced an uphill battle in winning the crowd over. The beauty of ska is the collective identity of its artists and audiences that embrace the ‘unity’ in community. In basketball terms, Reel Big Fish threw out a highlight worthy pass and Less Than Jake proceeded to slam-dunk the crowd.

Reel Big Fish Setlist

1. Trendy (with “The Final Countdown” intro)
2. I Want Your Girlfriend to Be My Girlfriend Too
3. Everyone Else Is an Asshole
4. All I Want Is More
5. 241
6. Your Guts (I Hate ‘Em)
7. Skank for Christmas
8. Ban the Tube Top
9. She’s Famous Now
10. My Life  (The Forces of Evil cover)
11. Another F.U. Song
12. I Know You Too Well to Like You Anymore
13. She Has a Girlfriend Now
14. Where Have You Been (with “Imperial March” intro)
15. Sell Out
    Encore:
16. S.R.
17. Beer / Self Esteem (The Offspring cover)
18. Take On Me (a-ha cover)

[php] wp_link_pages(array(‘before’=>’

‘)); [/php]

============================================================================================================================================