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/
Don
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm so sick of wanting all the things I'm haunted by
My sympathy goes to the oldest joke that's survived another year
I wonder where I'm going from where I'm at I wonder why I'm still here.
The writing on the subway walls reminds me why your words don't
Console me anymore while I'm lying wide awake on my bedroom floor.
I'm the lucky one, I'm getting out of here this is my last chance to disappear.
I'm the lucky one, I'm getting out of here, I think I may freeze on the last
And engagements cause I keep track of all the fresh starts and he dying famous
And there's a halo of second-hand smoke underneath the summer stars
Along with conversations we had on this subway car. the writing on the subway
Walls reminds me why your words don't console me anymore while I'm lying
Wide awake on my bedroom floor. I'm the lucky one, I'm getting out of here
This is my last chance to disappear, I'm the lucky one, I'm getting out of here,
I think I may freeze on the last days of summertime. remember when, when you said,
You said take these words and do what you want with them. the writing on the subway
Walls reminds me why your words don't console me anymore, while I'm lying wide awake
On my bedroom floor. I'm the lucky one, I'm getting out of here this is my last
Chance to disappear. I'm the lucky one, i;m getting out of here, I think
I may freeze on the last days of summertime.
The lyrics to Less Than Jake's song "Don" speak to the frustration and restlessness that the singer is feeling in their current situation. They are haunted by their own desires, and the plans and dreams they once had seem out of reach. The writing on the subway walls is a metaphor for the expectations and pressures that society puts on them, but they have realized that these words no longer bring them comfort. Instead, they lay awake on their bedroom floor, contemplating their options and wondering where their life will take them.
The imagery in the song is powerful and evocative, with the mention of the obituaries in the local papers and the halo of second-hand smoke creating a sense of mortality and transience. The singer knows that they need to make a change and take control of their own life, even if it means leaving everything behind. The repeated refrain of "I'm the lucky one, I'm getting out of here" is both defiant and hopeful, a statement of determination in the face of uncertainty.
Overall, "Don" is a song about searching for direction and meaning in a confusing world. It speaks to the universal experience of feeling lost and disillusioned, and the struggle to find one's place in the world. However, the singer's refusal to give up and determination to make a change is a message of hope and inspiration.
Line by Line Meaning
I could hear all the plans we had when the wind hits me just right
The wind sometimes brings back memories of plans I made with someone.
And I'm so sick of wanting all the things I'm haunted by
I'm tired of wanting things that remind me of something painful from my past.
My sympathy goes to the oldest joke that's survived another year
I feel sorry for old jokes that continue to be told year after year without ever getting new punchlines.
I wonder where I'm going from where I'm at I wonder why I'm still here.
I often question what my purpose is and why I'm still in the same place I've been for a while.
The writing on the subway walls reminds me why your words don't Console me anymore while I'm lying wide awake on my bedroom floor.
The graffiti on the subway walls reminds me of the hurtful words someone said to me, but now I'm no longer comforted by those same words when I can't sleep at night.
I'm the lucky one, I'm getting out of here this is my last chance to disappear.
I consider myself lucky to have one more opportunity to leave this place for good.
I think I may freeze on the last Days of summertime. the local papers always opened up to obituaries And engagements cause I keep track of all the fresh starts and he dying famous
I fear that I might not make it out before summer ends. I usually check the newspaper to see who's died and who's starting a new life, including those who are famous.
And there's a halo of second-hand smoke underneath the summer stars Along with conversations we had on this subway car. the writing on the subway Walls reminds me why your words don't console me anymore while I'm lying Wide awake on my bedroom floor.
I remember the conversations we had on this subway train under the stars, but now I associate the graffiti on subway walls with hurt instead of comfort when I can't sleep.
Remember when, when you said, You said take these words and do what you want with them. the writing on the subway Walls reminds me why your words don't console me anymore, while I'm lying wide awake on my bedroom floor.
I recall someone telling me to take their words and use them however I want, but now those same words no longer bring me comfort when I can't sleep.
I'm the lucky one, I'm getting out of here this is my last Chance to disappear. I'm the lucky one, i;m getting out of here, I think I may freeze on the last days of summertime.
I feel fortunate to have this chance to leave for good, and I worry that I might not make it out in time before summer ends.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher Demakes, Louis James Schaub, Peter John Wasilewski, Rogerio Lima Manganelli, Vincent Phillip Fiorello
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind