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/
John the Baptist Bones
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No matter what's above or down below
I've always known it, feel it my chest
I've always only known the half of it
I believe all these lines and phrases
Are part of a plan that just never changes
I always bite
Somebody told us back when we were young
Have faith in things that you will never touch
I've always thought this, maybe I'll confess
I think there's no plans, only accidents
I believe all these lines and phrases
Are part of a plan that just never changes
I always bite
The hand that helps me up
The hand that helps me up
I believe all these lines and phrases
Are part of a plan that just never changes
I'll break through all these words on pages
They make me believe I don't know what faith is
I always bite
The hand that helps me up
The hand that helps me up
The lyrics of Less Than Jake's “John the Baptist Bones” talk about a personal philosophy which incorporates both belief and doubt. The song suggests that sometimes it is hard to maintain faith in something, especially in the face of adversity or when the belief system seems flawed. The song touches on the idea that our individual understanding of the world is incomplete and that we are only able to perceive part of what is around us. At times, our beliefs and the things that we hold dear can seem like pages of a book that we can’t fully understand, leaving us unsure of what faith even means.
Throughout the song, the lyricist seems to have a negative outlook on everything, as evidenced by lines such as “I always bite the hand that helps me up”. This phrase suggests that, even when faced with help, there is an inherent tendency for self-sabotage or rejection. Yet the song also touches on a desire to break through all these words on pages, to come to a fuller understanding of what it means to have faith, but the lyricist cannot seem to shake this doubt or overcome this innate pessimism.
Overall, “John the Baptist Bones” is a poignant exploration of the human search for faith and the complexities of belief. It acknowledges that at times, faith can seem hard or even impossible to come by, but nonetheless, it remains a vital aspect of human life.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody said it's time for me to go
Someone has pointed out that it's time for me to leave.
No matter what's above or down below
Regardless of the situation - good or bad - I have to leave.
I've always known it, feel it my chest
I've known deep down that this moment would come.
I've always only known the half of it
I have incomplete knowledge of what's happening.
Somebody told us back when we were young
Upon reminiscing, I remember someone telling us during our childhood.
Have faith in things that you will never touch
We were advised to have belief in things that we cannot physically experience.
I've always thought this, maybe I'll confess
I've consistently held this belief, and now I'll acknowledge it.
I think there's no plans, only accidents
I hold the opinion that there are no predetermined events, only coincidences.
I'll break through all these words on pages
I'll strive to understand the meanings behind the words that I come across.
They make me believe I don't know what faith is
The words that I read mislead me to doubt what having faith really means.
I always bite
I tend to react negatively, even to positive efforts.
The hand that helps me up
I instinctively push away help that is being offered.
I believe all these lines and phrases
I have faith in all the words that I read and listen to.
Are part of a plan that just never changes
These lines and phrases are a part of an unchanging design.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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