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/
Losing Streak
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Short sighted and undecided
And you'll know where I'll be found
Just another day of smoking cigarettes
Apathetic, and just plain pathethic
Just like the day we met
And we're not growing up
And it's just my luck
In Less Than Jake's song Losing Streak, the lyrics describe the cycle of a toxic relationship and the singer's realization that they are stuck in it. The first line "I know you'll be around" signifies that the singer knows that the other person will always be in their life, even if they are not good for each other. The next line, "Short sighted and undecided" suggests that both the singer and the other person cannot see beyond their immediate attraction to each other and are unable to make a decision about their future. The phrase "And you'll know where I'll be found" implies that the other person knows that the singer will always come back to them, even if they try to leave.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you'll be around
I'm aware that you will still be present in my life
Short sighted and undecided
You lack foresight and remain uncertain
And you'll know where I'll be found
You can predict my location
Just another day of smoking cigarettes
Another typical day of unhealthy habits
Apathetic, and just plain pathethic
Showing no emotion or care, distressingly inadequate
Just like the day we met
No change has occurred since first encountering each other
And we're not growing up
Neither of us are maturing
And it's just my luck
Unfortunately it's my fate
That I'm broke and standing with you again.
I am financially unstable and reunite with you
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Woo
Automatic - 00:43
Happyman - 02:47
9th and Pine - 04:52
Sugar in Your Gas Tank - 07:39
Shindo - 10:10
107 - 13:42
Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts - 15:44
Krazy Glue - 19:53
Never Going Back to New Jersey - 21:49
How's My Driving Doug Hastings? - 26:45
Just Like Frank - 29:37
Ask the Magic 8 Ball - 32:18
Dopeman - 35:28
Jen Doesn't Like Me Anymore - 38:30
Rock-n-Roll Pizzeria - 41:33
Lockdown - 44:42
Glumble
How the hell do I still know all lyrics to this album?!
Gonzo Schmalanzo
They meant something, even if the message was simple.
C T
Honestly it’s because you only have to remember one verse and a chorus then repeat
Pete
I bought this album 20 years ago. I still know all the words too. Rock on.
xcvx16
I'll never forget when a former girlfriend pointed out my failures in memorizing chemistry being only by choice because of my memorization of song lyrics. 18 years later, still true.
Ian
Because they are fantastic songs! Duh. 😌👍
Shane Sands
I listened to this album SO MUCH while I was in high school. So good.
JPronobis
Same
I Got 99 Problems but My Alt Aint One
Yea Buddy !!!!! Cheers Fam
Team Broccoli
Shane Sands Same 🤘🏻🖤🎼