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/
Black Coffee
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They could be boiled away
And watching the steam drift upward,
Watching my problems drift away.
And watch the steam turn and twist,
Watch it all drift away.
Look how it rises and lifts
If only my problems were like water
They all could be washed away
And watch the water go downward
Watch it all go down the drain.
Less Than Jake's song "Black Coffee" is a powerful expression of the desire to be free from problems and anxieties. The singer expresses a wish that their problems were like water that could be boiled away, and then they watch the steam drift upward with their problems dissipating in the air. The detachment from their problems is so palpable that they start observing the steam turning and twisting as if it is a metaphor for their inner turmoil disappearing.
The singer then draws another analogy of wishing their problems were like water that could be washed away. The act of watching the water go downward and down the drain signifies the ultimate liberation from their worries. The song conveys a message of a person striving for peace of mind and a life devoid of any pain or stress.
The lyrics of Black Coffee are poetic and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a person trying to cope with life's challenges. The song has a universal appeal, and its message resonates with anyone who has ever experienced anxiety, stress, or worry. The powerful imagery of water being used as a metaphor for problems adds another layer of depth to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
If only my problems were like water
If only my problems were something as fluid and temporary as water.
They could be boiled away
Then, I could easily get rid of them, just like boiling water evaporates and removes impurities.
And watching the steam drift upward,
As I heat up the water, I become an observer of the natural phenomenon that is steam, rising away from the boiling pot, taking some of my problems with it.
Watching my problems drift away.
As I witness this natural process, I visualize my problems being lifted away, away from my mind and soul.
And watch the steam turn and twist,
I marvel at the hypnotic dance of steam, turning and twisting in the air, just like my problems could make my head spin at times.
Watch it all drift away.
I let myself relax and enjoy the moment, as my problems drift away, leaving me feeling lighter and less burdened.
Look how it rises and lifts
As I focus on the steam's ascent, I witness how it rises and lifts higher and higher, taking my problems with it.
Watch my problems drift away.
I keep my attention on the steam, imagining my problems being carried away, leaving me more clear-headed and refreshed.
They all could be washed away
If only my problems were something as simple as water, I could wash them away with ease and leave them behind me, moving forward fresher.
And watch the water go downward
If my problems were something as pure as water, I could watch them go downwards, flowing away from my life.
Watch it all go down the drain.
I could then flush them out of my existence by watching them disappear down the drain, freeing myself from the negative energy they had been causing me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Francis Joseph Burke, Paul Francis Webster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind