The band's name derives from a bird Vinnie had while growing up, which was treated better than the rest of the family. It's also a reference to the phrase "everything is jake," which is an old phrase meaning everything is cool.
Less Than Jake released their debut album, Pezcore, in 1995, following a series of independent seven-inch single releases. The band's subsequent two studio albums, Losing Streak (1996) and Hello Rockview (1998), were released on major label, Capitol Records, leading to increased exposure. The band's fifth studio album Anthem (2003) was their most commercially successful to date, featuring the singles, "She's Gonna Break Soon" and "The Science of Selling Yourself Short".
In 2008 the band founded its own label, Sleep It Off Records, and released its seventh full-length album, GNV FLA. The band has recently stated its preference for EP releases, and independently issued Greetings from Less Than Jake (2011) and its counterpart, Seasons Greetings from Less Than Jake (2012). In late 2012, the band combined the two to create the compilation album, Greetings and Salutations (2012) Their eighth studio album, See the Light, was released on November 12, 2013.
Miscellaneous Info:
Vinnie was previously the owner of the independent record label Fueled by Ramen, as well as a toy company called Wünderland War (formerly Monkey Vs. Robot). This label has signed bands such as Fall Out Boy, Punchline, The AKAs, Gym Class Heroes, Panic! At The Disco and Days Away. Roger, meanwhile, is in a second band, called Rehasher, for whom he composes lyrics and plays guitar. JR played sax on the last track of Off Key Melodies. JR works with a promoting company called the CT Mafia, as well as composing solo music. He contributed one track to the Drive-Thru compilation tribute to Bob Dylan, using the band name The Stay At Home Joneses (Roger sang backup for this track).
Roger and Vinnie have an unexplained fetish for Pez candy and they reportedly have sizeable dispenser collections. This love for Pez goes so far as to name one of their albums, Pezcore (parodying of the way in which many bands are described as [something]-core, starting with hardcore) and Pez dispenser motifs are a common feature of their merchandise.
Roger's employment history includes a smoke shop in the band's hometown Gainesville, Florida known as Knuckleheads which has since been transformed into a similar establishment named Smoke. Band member haunts have included Eddie C's, the Hardback (which was transformed into the Lyric), and Insomnia (which used to be the Covered Dish, and is now the new location of Common Grounds).
The members of Less Than Jake also served as backup musicians for Asian Man Records owner Mike Park in the B.Lee Band (once called "the Bruce Lee Band", changed for legal reasons).
The track "Look What Happened" appeared on two of their albums, "Borders & Boundaries" (2000) and "Anthem." (2003) The "Anthem" version is completely re-recorded, and has eschewed the brass at the beginning of the song that was featured in the previous recording. The re-recording features guest vocals from Teen Idols/Bullets To Broadway's Heather.
They have also re-recorded many other songs, including "Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts," "Jen Doesn't Like Me Anymore" and "Shotgun".
They recorded the main theme song "We're all Dudes" for the 1997 film "Goodburger" based on the sketch from the Nikelodeon TV show "All That." The song features Kel Mitchell (main character, Ed, in the movie). The song is based off of the jingle "Ed" would always sing while waiting for the next situation to come up in the Goodburger sketches. At the end of the song Mitchell says "Ah, Ed and Less than Jake, oh, uh... no?"
In 2004, Less Than Jake appeared on the Projekt Revolution Tour, joining such artists as The Used, Snoop Dogg, Korn, and the headlining band: Linkin Park.
Lineups:
Chris DeMakes - vocals and guitar (1992–present)
Roger Lima - vocals and bass (1993–present)
Buddy ''Goldfinger'' Schaub - tenor trombone and backing vocals (1993–present)
Peter ''JR'' Wasilewski - tenor saxophone and backing vocals (2000–present)
Matt Yonker - Drums (2018–present)
Past members:
Jessica Mills - alto saxophone (1993–1998)
Derron Nuhfer - tenor and baritone saxophone (1995–2000)
Pete Anna - tenor and alto trombone (1998–2001)
Vinnie Fiorello - drums (1992–2018)
Website: http://www.lessthanjake.com/
867-5309
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You give me something I can hold on to
Now you think I'm like the others before
Who saw you name and number on the wall
Jenny I got your number
I need to make you mine
Jenny don't change your number
Jenny your the girl for me
You don't know me, but you make me so happy
I tried to call you before but I lost the nerve
I tried my imagination but I was disturbed
Jenny I got your number
I need to make you mine
Jenny don't change your number
867-5309, 867-5309, 867-5309, 867-5309
I got it, I got it, I got your number on the wall
I got it, I got it, for a good time, for a good time call
Jenny I got your number
I need to make you mine
Jenny don't change your number
867-5309, 867-5309, 867-5309, 867-5309
Jenny who can I turn to
For advise and my troubles I can always turn to you
Less Than Jake's song 867-5309 is about a man named Tommy who sees a girl's name and number written on the wall and decides to give her a call. The girl's name is Jenny, and the song is essentially a plea to her to not change her number so that Tommy can continue to call her. The lyrics express Tommy's desire and hope to make Jenny his own.
The song starts with Tommy asking Jenny for help, saying that she is someone he can hold on to. He then acknowledges that Jenny might think he is like the others before who have called her after seeing her name and number on the wall. Tommy then goes on to say that Jenny is the girl for him, and even though she doesn't know him, she makes him so happy. He has tried to call Jenny before, but lost the nerve, so he is hoping that, with the help of her number, he can finally make a connection with her.
The chorus of the song is simply "Jenny I've got your number, I need to make you mine, Jenny don't change your number." This is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing Tommy's desire for Jenny and his desperation to keep her number and not let her slip away.
Overall, the song is a catchy and lighthearted tribute to a girl that the singer is interested in, with the added bonus of it being based on a real phone number. The song became a massive hit in the 80s and continues to be a classic to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Jenny who can I turn to
Addressing a friend, the singer asks for advice and comfort in times of hardship.
You give me something I can hold on to
The friend provides support and stability for the singer, allowing them to cope with their troubles.
Now you think I'm like the others before
The singer fears they will be seen as just another person who has taken notice of the friend's contact information scribbled on a wall.
Who saw you name and number on the wall
The artist is referring to the typical situation where someone writes their name and number on a public surface like a bathroom stall, often for sexual purposes.
Jenny I got your number
The artist directly addresses their friend, Jenny, and expresses their feelings of attraction.
I need to make you mine
The singer is confessing their desire to pursue a romantic relationship with Jenny.
Jenny don't change your number
The singer pleads with Jenny not to change her contact information so they can continue to pursue a relationship.
867-5309, 867-5309, 867-5309, 867-5309
Repeatedly shouting out the phone number written on the wall, which the artist acquired in order to contact Jenny.
Jenny your the girl for me
The artist reiterates their belief that Jenny is the person they are meant to be with.
You don't know me, but you make me so happy
Although Jenny may not know who the artist is, their existence itself brings the artist joy and happiness.
I tried to call you before but I lost the nerve
The singer previously attempted to contact Jenny but backed out due to fear or nervousness.
I tried my imagination but I was disturbed
The artist attempted to imagine a future with Jenny, but the idea of calling her and being rejected was unsettling.
I got it, I got it, I got your number on the wall
The singer is excited that they were able to obtain Jenny's contact information from a public wall, and they can now pursue her without fear of rejection.
For a good time, for a good time call
A common phrase written with contact information on public surfaces, implying that calling the number will lead to a sexual encounter. The singer, however, is looking for something more meaningful than just a hookup.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES IRWIN KELLER, ALEXANDER HUGHES CALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jessicalee7856
Thanks for sharing this! Brought me back in a time machine that I needed to be on
@assisalves4209
Só good Jenny, you don't change ur number 😅🎵🎼
@YeisonSerrano
Cool! una version full punk!!
@johnjennings959
Just so yall know, contradicting the video description, this is a cover, not a song by LTJ
@Mario_igor
you sing very fast I can't tell if you like the song
@TheSnak369
8765309!!!!!!
@choiteves6
This morning😊
@arc_flank7517
slow it down to 0.75
@matefugedi7779
why would you?
@roddevereaux1830
@@matefugedi7779 Actually sounds better