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/
Robo
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lived in every town
And she always seems to know
So she does a zine
Says she's in the scene
And she goes to the cool punk rock shows
And it's not like I've seen the world
It's just 'cause no ones always right
And I'm almost never right so she can't be
Yeah he's been around
Likes to hear the sound
Of his voice annoying me
His shirt off at shows
Brand new punk rock clothes
Do you think that I have a choice to see
That I sometimes think he's wrong
And been talking way too long
In fact it's 'cause no ones always right
And I'm almost never right
So you can't be.
The song "Robo" by ska punk band Less Than Jake is a commentary on the pretentiousness and elitism sometimes found in punk rock culture. The song tells the story of two individuals, a girl who publishes a zine and claims to be in the punk rock scene, and a guy who likes to hear the sound of his own voice and wears brand new punk rock clothes. The singer of the song is skeptical of both of these individuals because of their claims of being "in the know" and always being right. The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that no one is always right, and the singer is almost never right, so he can't believe that these two people are always right either.
The song is a critique of punk rock culture and the tendency for some individuals to gatekeep and be exclusive rather than inclusive. The line "And it's not 'cause she's a girl" is a reference to the sexism and misogyny that can also be prevalent in punk rock culture, with women often being overlooked or dismissed. The line "Do you think that I have a choice to see" is a nod to the fact that sometimes, people who are annoying or pretentious are still accepted in a scene because they fit a certain mold or aesthetic.
Overall, "Robo" is a playful but pointed commentary on punk rock culture and the ways in which individuals can become self-important and exclusionary.
Line by Line Meaning
So she's been around
The woman in question has traveled extensively, having lived in multiple towns and cities.
Lived in every town
She has not just traveled but has also lived in every place she's been to.
And she always seems to know
The woman appears to be very knowledgeable about the punk rock scene she's a part of.
So she does a zine
She publishes her own punk rock fanzine.
Says she's in the scene
She claims to be a part of the punk rock subculture.
And she goes to the cool punk rock shows
The woman attends the coolest punk rock shows happening in town.
And it's not like I've seen the world
The singer acknowledges that he hasn't traveled or seen as much as the woman has.
And it's not 'cause she's a girl
The woman's knowledge about punk rock is not based on her gender.
It's just 'cause no one's always right
The artist explains that it's impossible for anyone to be always correct about everything.
And I'm almost never right so she can't be
The artist admits that he is frequently wrong and recognizes that the woman, as a human being, can also make mistakes.
Yeah he's been around
The man being described has also traveled extensively.
Likes to hear the sound
He enjoys listening to his own voice and talking.
Of his voice annoying me
The singer finds the man's voice irritating.
His shirt off at shows
The man likes to take off his shirt during punk rock shows.
Brand new punk rock clothes
He dresses in new and trendy punk rock clothes.
Do you think that I have a choice to see
The artist is forced to witness the man's irritating behavior when they are both at punk rock shows.
That I sometimes think he's wrong
The artist questions the man's knowledge and opinions about punk rock.
And been talking way too long
The singer thinks the man is rambling and talking for too long.
In fact it's 'cause no one's always right
The singer reiterates his belief that everyone makes mistakes and that nobody is always correct.
And I'm almost never right
The artist acknowledges his own flaws and tendency to be wrong.
So you can't be.
In conclusion, the artist is asserting that everyone, including themselves and the two people mentioned in the song, can make mistakes and can't always be right.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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