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/
Portrait of a Cigarette Smoker at 19
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Half alive with half open eyes
With a one track mind
And a flawed design
Feeling like I was lost
At sea at only the age of 19
Floating around in alcohol and apathy
Taking in too much caffeine and nicotine
Just say you won't look back to see
Just who we left behind (there might not be a next time)
With all the ups and downs and turn arounds (might not be a next time)
To the breaking up to breaking down (might not be a next time)
Yeah we were the ones to say (there might not be a next time)
I used to be a stereotype
Someone you'd never recognize
With fingers so yellow
That they matched the yellow skies
And there was a few things I memorized
From all those blurry times
Like bottles clinking under blinking signs
And a few last words from long lost friends of mine
If we make it out of here alive
Just say you won't look back to see
Just who we left behind (there might not be a next time)
With all the ups and downs and turn arounds (might not be a next time)
To the breaking up to breaking down (might not be a next time)
Yeah we were the ones to say (there might not be a next time)
And if we make it outta here alive (if we make outta here alive)
Just say you won't look back to see
Just who we left behind
Just who we left behind
After all the fuck ups and fallouts (there might not be a next time)
With all the ups and downs and turn arounds (might not be a next time)
Through all the breaking up to breaking down (there might not be a next time)
Yeah we were the ones to say (there might not be a next time)
There might not be a next time (might not be a next time)
Words to live by
we're all doing just fine
The song "Portrait of a Cigarette Smoker at 19" by Less Than Jake is a reflection of the band's nostalgic memories of being young and reckless. The opening verse paints a picture of a person who is lost and vulnerable. The lines "Feeling like I was lost/At sea at only the age of 19" shows the singer's state of mind. He is disillusioned and does not know what his purpose is. This feeling is intensified by his addiction to alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine. These substances are his escape from reality, but they also contribute to his deteriorating health.
The chorus relays the message of living in the moment because there might not be a next time. This line is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of seizing the day. The second verse shows that the singer has accepted his past mistakes and things he cannot change. The lines "And there was a few things I memorized/From all those blurry times" show that he has learned from his experiences. The final verse ends on a positive note with the lines "Words to live by/We're all doing just fine," indicating that the singer has moved on from his reckless behavior and is content with his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to be a stereotype
At one point in my life, I was just like everyone else: unoriginal and boring.
Half alive with half open eyes
I existed, but I wasn't really living; my life lacked passion and excitement.
With a one track mind
I had tunnel vision and could only focus on one thing at a time.
And a flawed design
My existence was inherently flawed, and I couldn't correct it no matter how hard I tried.
Feeling like I was lost
I was adrift in life and didn't truly know who I was or where I was going.
At sea at only the age of 19
I was young and already feeling lost, having no sense of direction and no control over my life.
Floating around in alcohol and apathy
I tried to drown my feelings of aimlessness and confusion in alcohol, and I didn't care about anything else.
Taking in too much caffeine and nicotine
In addition to alcohol, I relied heavily on caffeine and nicotine to get through the day, further damaging my already flawed existence.
If we make it outta here alive
If we manage to survive our reckless behavior and poor life choices...
Just say you won't look back to see
Promise me that you won't dwell on the past and the people we've left behind.
Just who we left behind (there might not be a next time)
We've already lost people along the way, and we may not get another chance to make things right with them.
With all the ups and downs and turn arounds (might not be a next time)
Life is unpredictable and full of unexpected twists and turns, and we may not be so lucky as to have another chance to right our wrongs.
To the breaking up to breaking down (might not be a next time)
We've experienced both the highs of success and the lows of failure, but we may not have the opportunity to learn from these experiences and make better choices in the future.
Yeah we were the ones to say (there might not be a next time)
We knew all along that our actions were risky and dangerous, but we kept making poor choices regardless.
Someone you'd never recognize
I had changed so much from my former self that nobody who knew me would recognize me anymore.
With fingers so yellow
My smoking habit had stained my fingers with the telltale yellow color of a heavy smoker.
That they matched the yellow skies
My fingers were so yellow that they looked like they blended in with the hazy, polluted sky.
And there was a few things I memorized
Amidst all the drunken nights and meaningless experiences, there were a few memories that I could actually remember and cherish.
From all those blurry times
Most of my memories were hazy and indistinct, blurry and hard to recall.
Like bottles clinking under blinking signs
One of the memories I cherished was the sound of glass bottles clinking together in the night, illuminated by bright, flashing neon lights.
And a few last words from long lost friends of mine
I had lost touch with many of my old friends, but I still remembered some of our last conversations and the advice they had given me.
After all the fuck ups and fallouts (there might not be a next time)
Despite all our bad decisions and failed relationships, we still have hope that we can make things right... but we may not have another chance.
Words to live by
These are the lessons we've learned from our reckless behavior and poor choices.
we're all doing just fine
Despite our issues and problems, we're all just trying to get by and make the most of our lives.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind