Pop Break Live: Less Than Jake, Four Year Strong, Direct Hit and Bearings at The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ
Words & Photos by Patrick Gilrane
On February 18, 2018 Gainesville Florida ska / punk rockers Less Than Jake played before a near capacity crowd at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville NJ Also, on the nights roster, Four Year Strong, Direct hit and Bearings.
Less Than Jake (LTJ) hails from Gainesville Florida and was formed in 1992 and includes band members Chris DeMakes on guitar and vocals, Roger Lima on bass and vocals, Vinnie Fiorello on drums, Buddy Schaub on trombone and Pete Wasilewski on the saxophone. LTJ is a Pure Noise Records recording artist whose latest album, Sound The Alarm dropped in Feb of 17. LTJ is band that’s not afraid to put miles on the tour bus, including over ten years with Vans Warped tour.
LTJ hit the stage to “Sugar In Your Gas Tank” delivering that LTJ sound that immediately brought the crowd to life. Next up was “The Ghost Of You and Me” and “Dopeman” with Roger Lima’s distinctive bass licks shaking the venue. This show had the crowd on edge from the start with Buddy Schaub working the crowd, Chris DeMakes distinct guitar riffs and JR’s smooth sax play.
The set moved on with LTJ playing “Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts,” Never Going Back To New Jersey,” Plastic Cup Politics,” Bomb Drop,” and “Harvey Wallbanger” to name a few. LTJ played a total of seventeen songs (including encore) and ended the night with a smoking rendition of “All My Best Friends Are Metal Heads “ that shook the rafters at the Starland Ballroom!
Cabin fever is a real thing for people in Nee Jersey during winter and this show was a welcome relief. LTJ shows have the ability to take you somewhere else, away from all the BS in life to a place filled music and good times. LTJ had a killer set at Starland tonight, a sing along to every song, dancing, crowd surfers and people just cutting loose.
Four Year Strong (FYS) provided support on this tour and is a punk band from Worcester Mass with band members Dan O’Connor on guitar and lead vocals, Alan Day on guitar and vocals, Joe Weiss on bass and vocals and Jake Massucco on drums. FYS has been in the game since 2001 and has seven full-length albums to date including the most recent “Some Of You will Like This, Some Of You wont” which dropped this past September via Pure Noise Records. It’s important to note as well that four of their seven albums made the Billboard 200 list, not to shabby for a bunch of punk rockers from Worcester!
FYS took the stage to “I Hold Myself In Contempt” with the crowd surging to the stage singing along. Next up was “Hero’s Get Remembered, Legends Never Die” which really got things started in the crowd surfing dept with a constant flow of people over the barrier. From that point on it was a hard driving full frontal punk rock assault that took the Starland on a wild ride! For those who don’t know FYS is of solid punk pedigree coming from Massachusetts, which is home to some of the best past, and present punk/ska bands on the planet including the Pixies, Bosstones, DKM, Street Dogs, DMZ, Darkbuster, Ducky Boys and the list goes on and on!
FYS played a total of thirteen songs and drove the crowd to the brink. My first time catching their show, can’t wait till next time!
Direct Hit (DH) was one of two bands to open the show tonight and is a punk band from Milwaukee, in the scene since 2007, with band members Nick Woods on guitar and vocals, Danny Walkowiak on drums, Devon Kay on guitar and vocals and Steve Maury on bass and vocals. DH is a Fat Wreck chords artist whose latest work “Wasted Mind” dropped in 2016. DH was a great addition to this show delivering a high energy set of driving power chords, bass lines and charged lyrics via front man Nick woods!
Bearings got things started tonight at the Starland and hail from Ottawa Canada with Doug Cousins on vocals, Ryan Culligan on guitar and vocals, Collin Hanes on bass and Connor Kington on drums. Their latest album “Home Is” dropped in 2016. I’ve seen a bunch of good Canadian bands over the last year with most being from Ontario, not sure what’s going on north of the boarder but I like it. Bearings were a nice addition to an already sick line up, with the crowd really responding to their sound!
In closing I loved this show, a big thanks to Less Than Jake for braving the cold Jersey winter, Four Year Strong, direct hit and Bearings for the great music. I would also like to thank the always-professional staff at the Starland Ballroom for having our back, Cheers!
