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

Less Than Jake

As the lights suddenly dimmed for Less Than Jake, a public service announcement played through the speakers and hilariously urged all audience members to “refrain from using their cellphones since the videos will sound like shit and look blurry anyway.” Once the first few bass chords for “Look What Happened” echoed, the entire crowd simultaneously jumped up and down as the band tore through one of their signature tunes. If there were a weather forecast before the show, conditions such as “high tide” would’ve appeared as the crowd proceeded to surf away during “Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts,” “The Ghosts of Me and You,” and “History of a Boring town.”

Remember my promise about the unexpected earlier? A marriage proposal actually took place center stage towards the middle of the set. Much credit to the entire band, vocalist Chris DeMakes kicked things off by sharing a story about a friend that had an important announcement to make on stage. I forgot to write down the guy’s name, so I apologize – I think his name was Steve – but he walked onto the stage with his girlfriend, spoke into the microphone, kneeled down and proposed to her. Within seconds, she said “YES!” and the audience erupted. Talk about a crowd raising moment – this just added to the show’s amazing atmosphere.

Whenever Less Than Jake comes to town, always expect a nonstop marathon of shenanigans such as cannons shooting off massive amounts of toilet paper, confetti, and balloons into the crowd. Towards the latter half of the set, the band participated in a 30 second song challenge where they promised to play a whole song in 30 seconds. Believe it or not, they even dusted off the “Pac-Man Jingle” from their 2010 covers collection TV/EP. The band jokingly claimed how Pac-Man cereal is set to make a comeback this summer and their theme song will play during the commercial. Well, speaking of Less Than Jake songs associated with food brands, they actually played “We’re All Dudes” from the Good Burger soundtrack! As someone who proudly owns the original orange Nickelodeon VHS, this was a dream come true! Even if Chris DeMakes never saw the movie, the contagious melody is perfect for a live show since “I’m a dude/ He’s a dude/ She’s a dude/ We’re all dude’s, hey!”

Considering the show’s crowd capacity, Less Than Jake still captured the aura of witnessing a young band perform in front 50 people. Talk about awesome –this audience consisted of teenagers and fans in their late 30s that originally discovered Less Than Jake in the mid 90s. My hat goes off to the older audience members who stuck around all these years and still managed to let loose during the show. I recently interviewed Chris DeMakes and he spoke about the groups early days performing at VFW Halls, basement shows, and tiny clubs across New Jersey. From my perspective, seeing such a wide age range of audience member’s skank together in harmony spoke volumes about the beautiful aura of ska music. It’s truly a judgment free zone that brings out the greatest aura from concert goers. If anyone hasn’t seen Less Than Jake or Reel Fish live, I urge reader’s to embrace or rediscover the youthful spirit inside us all and skank with these band’s like there’s no tomorrow

1. Look What Happened
2. Nervous in the Alley
3. The Ghosts of Me and You
4. Good Enough
5. How’s My Driving, Doug Hastings?
6. Automatic/We’re All Dudes (Medley)
7. American Idle
8. All My Best Friends Are Metalheads
9. The New Auld Lang Syne
10. Motown Never Sounded So Good
11. Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts
12. The Science of Selling Yourself Short
13. Anchor
14. Sobriety Is a Serious Business and Business Isn’t So Good
15. Pac Man Cereal
16. Pac Man Cereal
17. Escape from the A-Bomb House
18. Plastic Cup Politics

    Encore:

19. The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out/Screws Fall Out
20. History of a Boring Town
21. Pac Man Cereal

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