Less Than Jake is a ska punk band formed in 1992 in Gainesville, USA. Their… Read Full Bio ↴Less Than Jake is a ska punk band formed in 1992 in Gainesville, USA. Their current line-up consists of Chris DeMakes (vocals, guitar), Roger Lima (vocals, bass), Matt Yonker (drums), Buddy Schaub (trombone) and Peter "JR" Wasilewski (saxophone).

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/

Greased Lightnin
Less Than Jake Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Why this car is automatic
It's systematic
It's hydromatic
Why it's grease lightning (Grease lightning)

We'll get some overhead lifters and some four barrel quads
Oh yeah
(Keep talking whoa keep talking)

A fuel injection cutoff and chrome plated rods oh yeah
(I'll get the money I'll kill to get the money)
With a four speed on the floor WE'LL be waiting at the door
You know that ain't no shit we'll be getting lots of tit
In Grease Lightning
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go

Go grease lightning you're burning up the quarter mile
(Grease lightning go grease lightning)
Go grease lightning you're coasting through the heat lap trial
You are supreme the chicks'll cream for grease lightning
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go

Purple french tail lights and thirty inch fins
Oh yeah
A Palomino dashboard and duel muffler twins
Oh yeah
With PISTOL PLATED SHOCKS I can get off my rocks
You know that I ain't bragging she's a real pussy wagon
Grease lightning

Go grease lightning you're burning up the quarter mile
(Grease lightning go grease lightning)
Go grease lighting you're coasting through the heat lap trial
You are supreme the chicks'll cream for grease lightning
Go grease lightning you're burning up the quarter mile
(Grease lightning go grease lightning)
Go grease lighting you're coasting through the hit lap trial
You are supreme the chicks'll cream for grease lightning
Lightning, lightning, lightning

Lightning, lightning, lightning
Lightning

Overall Meaning

The song "Greased Lightning" by Less Than Jake is a cover of the song from the musical "Grease". The lyrics describe a car that is automatic, systematic, and hydromatic, which is why "it's grease lightning." The singer then describes adding various parts to the car to make it faster, including overhead lifters, four barrel quads, a fuel injection cutoff, and chrome plated rods. They also mention having a four speed on the floor and waiting at the door to get lots of attention. The car is described using various features that were popular in cars in the 1950s, such as purple french tail lights, thirty inch fins, and a Palomino dashboard with dual muffler twins. The singer concludes that the car is a "real pussy wagon".

The lyrics can be interpreted as a celebration of 1950s car culture and the importance of cars in youth culture. The singer is obsessed with having the fastest, most impressive car, and believes that this will bring them success and admiration. The focus on adding various parts to the car also suggests the idea of tinkering with and modifying cars, a hobby that has long been associated with car culture.

Line by Line Meaning

Why this car is automatic
The car is automatic and it is being highlighted for its automatic nature

It's systematic
The car's automatic nature follows a system that makes it highly efficient

It's hydromatic
The car's automatic system is hydraulic and highly powerful

Why it's grease lightning (Grease lightning)
The car's automatic system, coupled with its power, makes it a lightning-fast car, earning the nickname 'grease lightning'

We'll get some overhead lifters and some four barrel quads
They plan to add upgrades to the car, namely better lifters and a stronger 4-barrel carburetor

Oh yeah (Keep talking whoa keep talking)
They are excited to continue discussing the car upgrades

A fuel injection cutoff and chrome plated rods oh yeah
Another upgrade they are planning on includes adding a fuel injection cut-off system and using chrome-plated rods, which is making them happy

(I'll get the money I'll kill to get the money)
They are willing to go to any extent to acquire the money they need to purchase the desired car parts

With a four speed on the floor WE'LL be waiting at the door
They will have a four-speed shifter board on the car, and are excited to take it out and show it off

You know that ain't no shit we'll be getting lots of tit
They believe that, with such a powerful and attractive car, they will have no problem attracting female attention

In Grease Lightning
All of these upgrades will help make the car super fast, hence earning it the nickname 'Grease Lightning'

Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go
They are eager and excited to take the car out and experience its new upgrades

Go grease lightning you're burning up the quarter mile
The 'Grease Lightning' car can easily burn rubber and cover a quarter mile race in a flash

(Grease lightning go grease lightning)
They are chanting for the car to 'go' while repeating its nickname

Go grease lightning you're coasting through the heat lap trial
While driving through the heat lap trial, the car performs with ease and does not lag behind

You are supreme the chicks'll cream for grease lightning
The car's speed and sexy upgrades make it attractive to the ladies

Purple french tail lights and thirty inch fins
They envision the tail lights on the car will be bright and purple in color, and will have long, thirty-inch fins at the rear

Oh yeah
Their vision of the car's look is making them happy and excited

A Palomino dashboard and duel muffler twins
They plan to add a classic Palomino dashboard style and two dual mufflers to the car's look

With PISTOL PLATED SHOCKS I can get off my rocks
They are excited about the addition of pistol-plated shocks, which are ensuring a smoother ride and enabling them to take full advantage of the car's power

You know that I ain't bragging she's a real pussy wagon
They are not just boasting, the car is actually attracting the ladies like crazy

Grease lightning
They are referring to the car as 'Grease Lightning' once again due to its upgrades and attractive features

Lightning, lightning, lightning
A chant in honor of the car's speed and power

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS