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/
Life Led Out Loud
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
this off my chest
there's a few times I'd wanna lose the map
take it all back and forget
now let me trace
my younger days
my best mistakes were the ones I'd never trade
never fade or replace
welcome to my life lived out loud
drag the skeletons out, parade them all around town
welcome to my life lived out loud
The hows and whys
of who am I
they make me think I was invincible
invisible through my eyes
I never cared
and was never scared
with the consequence and the punishment
was all that's left
ringing in my ears
Drag the skeletons out, parade them all around town
welcome to my life lived out loud
throw all the secrets out, and take the words from my mouth
welcome to my life lived out loud
welcome to my life lived out loud
welcome to my life lived out loud
Welcome to my life lived out loud
welcome to my life lived out loud (woah oh oh)
welcome to my life lived out loud (woah oh oh)
welcome to my life lived out loud
(woah oh oh)
(woah oh oh)
(woah oh oh)
In the song "Life Led Out Loud" by Less Than Jake, the singer is reflecting on their past and how they have lived their life. They first admit that there are a few times in their life where they wish they could go back and start over, but ultimately they are content with the mistakes they have made as they have shaped who they are today. The chorus "Drag the skeletons out, parade them all around town, welcome to my life lived out loud" suggests that the singer is not ashamed of their past and is willing to be open about their mistakes and experiences.
The second verse focuses on the singer's attitude towards life during their younger days. They believed themselves to be invincible and were not afraid of the consequences of their actions. However, looking back, they can hear the consequences of their actions ringing in their ears. The use of the phrase "ringing in my ears" has a double meaning, both literally hearing the consequences and metaphorically being a reminder of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
First let me get this off my chest
To start, I need to voice something that's been weighing on me.
there's a few times I'd wanna lose the map take it all back and forget
There are moments I regret and wish I could erase from my memory.
now let me trace my younger days my best mistakes were the ones I'd never trade never fade or replace
But reflecting on my past, even my biggest errors taught me valuable lessons and shaped who I am.
Drag the skeletons out, parade them all around town welcome to my life lived out loud
I'm ready to be completely honest about my past and show the world who I really am and what I've been through.
The hows and whys of who am I they make me think I was invincible invisible through my eyes
As I try to understand my identity, I realize that I used to feel unstoppable and invisible to the world.
I never cared and was never scared with the consequence and the punishment was all that's left ringing in my ears
I used to act recklessly without worrying about the repercussions, but the consequences eventually caught up to me and still haunt me.
throw all the secrets out, and take the words from my mouth welcome to my life lived out loud
I'm not holding back anymore and am finally being completely transparent with no secrets left to hide.
welcome to my life lived out loud
Welcome to my raw and unfiltered reality.
Contributed by Amelia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.