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/
Jump
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing else even mattered
It was just you, and you alone
And you can feel it in your bones
You didn't need to be told
What to believe
(What to believe)
At lightning speed
Remember when you stopped short of surrender?
And you never say never
But it's the truth, you didn't know
Between the now and what's unknown
You didn't need to be told
What to believe
(What to believe)
And you realized on your own
At lightning speed
The skeptics never make it through the static
Automatic
Your desperate techniques to shake the stone [?]
The skeptics never make it through the static
Automatic
Step to the edge and take the jump
Step to the edge and take the jump
Whoooaaa
Step to the edge and take the jump
You didn't need to be told
What to believe
(What to believe)
You didn't need to let go
At lightning speed
The skeptics never make it through the static
Automatic
Your desperate techniques to shake the stone [?]
The skeptics never make it through the static
Automatic
Step to the edge and take the jump
Step to the edge and take the jump
Whoooaaa
Step to the edge and take the jump
Less Than Jake's "Jump" is an inspirational song about taking risks, living life to the fullest, and not allowing doubts and skeptics to hold you back. The lyrics are a reminiscence of a time when the singer had all the answers and lived without worrying about anyone else's opinions, but it's a position he has since abandoned. However, he encourages listeners to step to the edge, jump, and take that breath-taking decision that will make them feel alive.
The refrain "the skeptics never make it through the static, automatic" implies that the singer understands that people often hold back from taking risks because they are too skeptical, too focused on the static of life to see the possibilities. The urgent way the song builds up throughout the verses towards the climax at the end with a passionate delivery of the call to action urging the listener to step to the edge reflects the urgency to live life to the fullest.
In summary, "Jump" is a song that urges the listener to let go of doubts, take risks, and create a life worth living. It's about letting go of the static surrounding our lives and moving beyond it to create a better version of ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember when you had all the answers?
Recalling a time when you were confident and knowledgeable.
Nothing else even mattered
Your knowledge and beliefs were all-encompassing and important.
It was just you, and you alone
You were self-reliant and autonomous in your thinking.
And you can feel it in your bones
Your conviction was deeply ingrained in you.
You didn't need to be told
You were independent and didn't require instruction.
What to believe
In terms of belief, you knew what was right for you.
(What to believe)
Reiterating the fact that you knew what you believed in.
You didn't need to let go
You were unyielding in your beliefs and convictions.
At lightning speed
Your decisions and actions were quick and decisive.
Remember when you stopped short of surrender?
Recalling a moment when you refused to give up or give in.
And you never say never
You were determined and persevering.
But it's the truth, you didn't know
Admitting that there were things that you were uncertain of or didn't understand.
Between the now and what's unknown
Expressing the space between the known and the unknown and the uncertainty therein.
The skeptics never make it through the static
People who question or doubt often fail to persevere through challenges or difficulties.
Automatic
Implied lack of thoughtfulness or critical thinking in people's actions.
Your desperate techniques to shake the stone [?]
Using ineffective or misguided methods to try to change or influence others' opinions.
Step to the edge and take the jump
Encouraging taking risks and pursuing one's convictions despite potential obstacles.
Whoooaaa
A repetitive and high-energy vocalization.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER D. DEMAKES, LOUIS JAMES SCHAUB, PETER WASILEWSKI, ROGERIO MANGANELLI, VINNIE FIORELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind