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/
Jen Doesn't Like Me Anymore
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I don't really care
If she likes me or not
Jen doesn't like to settle
Until she makes me feel like Howie Reynolds
She thinks that I'm all that I've got
So, Jen doesn't like me anymore
And Jen doesn't like to go to my shows
Jen doesn't like me anymore
The lyrics to Less Than Jake's song Jen Doesn't are a lamentation about a relationship that has gone sour. The singer, presumably a musician, expresses that he no longer cares if Jen likes him or not, which she finds unfair. The line "Jen doesn't like to settle until she makes me feel like Howie Reynolds" seems to suggest that Jen is someone who constantly seeks and strives for more, but the singer doesn't seem to be interested in playing that game. He tells us that Jen thinks that he's "all that I've got" which may indicate that he's afraid of losing her, or that he's just not interested in other people.
The chorus, "So, Jen doesn't like me anymore, and Jen doesn't like to go to my shows, she hates to hear my whoa-whoas, Jen doesn't like me anymore" is a sad refrain that reinforces the fact that this relationship is over. The singer is resigned to the fact that Jen doesn't like him anymore, and he's come to terms with that. It's a melancholy song that speaks to the pain of lost love and the struggle to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Jen thinks it isn't fair
Jen believes that I am not being just in my actions towards her.
That I don't really care
Jen perceives that I lack genuine concern for her.
If she likes me or not
Jen is unsure whether she has developed an attraction towards me or not.
Jen doesn't like to settle
Jen has high expectations and does not easily compromise or accept less than what she desires.
Until she makes me feel like Howie Reynolds
Jen desires to impress and captivate me, like a famous celebrity or a person with great charisma.
She thinks that I'm all that I've got
Jen believes that my value and worth depend solely on my relationship with her.
So, Jen doesn't like me anymore
Jen has lost her interest or positive feelings towards me.
And Jen doesn't like to go to my shows
Jen dislikes attending the performances or events where I am present.
She hates to hear my whoa-whoas
Jen despises the exclamations or vocalizations that I often use in my music or speech.
Jen doesn't like me anymore
Jen reiterates that she no longer has any affection or regard for me.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind