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/
Sunstroke
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A tourist in the city I got my name from?
How did construction sites
Rise up on streets with shoes tied to old power lines?
And I'll never question why
Or where I draw the line
It's like living on a fault line
It's like living on a fault line
And I'm too stubborn to decide
The old saying goes
You're only missed when you start to like being alone
I'm left here in a pose
With steel beams and the fact that I'm just flesh and bone
And I'll never question why
Or where I draw the line
I'm too stubborn to decide
It's like living on a fault line
It's like living on a fault line
And I'm too stubborn to decide
We've all been living proof
That time won't wait or choose
We know it ticks on without me and you
And I can't have both sides
Letting go or holding tight
Letting go or holding tight
I'm burning bright tonight
And I'll never question why
Or where I draw the line
I'm too stubborn to decide
It's like living on a fault line
It's like living on a fault line
It's like living on a fault line
It's like living on a fault line
And I'm too stubborn to deciiiiiide
Living on a fault line
And I'm too stubborn to decide
The lyrics to Less Than Jake's song "Sunstroke" suggest a feeling of detachment from one's surroundings and a sense of uncertainty in the world. The singer wonders when they became a tourist in the city they are from, seeing construction sites rise up around them with shoes tied to old power lines. They feel like they are living on a fault line, unstable and constantly shifting. Despite this, they refuse to question why or where to draw the line, stubbornly holding on to their beliefs and refusing to make decisions.
The second verse provides more insight into the singer's thoughts and feelings. They feel alone, surrounded by steel beams and flesh and bone. The old saying that you're only missed when you start to like being alone rings true for the singer, who feels the weight of time ticking on. They feel trapped between letting go and holding tight and are burning bright tonight.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of confusion, uncertainty, and transience. The metaphor of living on a fault line suggests that life is unpredictable and volatile. The singer's stubbornness in refusing to make decisions underscores their hesitation and anxiety about the future.
Line by Line Meaning
When did I become
At what point did I start feeling like a tourist in the city that gave me my identity?
A tourist in the city I got my name from?
Someone who feels like an outsider in the place where they belong.
How did construction sites
Questioning how all these new developments came to be.
Rise up on streets with shoes tied to old power lines?
Worried about the loss of tradition and how the old ways are being forgotten.
And I'll never question why
I won't ask why things are the way they are.
Or where I draw the line
I'm unsure of what my limits should be.
I'm too stubborn to decide
I'm unwilling to make a firm decision.
It's like living on a fault line
Living life in a state of uncertainty, like the ever-shifting plates of a fault line.
The old saying goes
Referring to a common proverb.
You're only missed when you start to like being alone
You only realize how much you miss someone when you get used to being without them.
I'm left here in a pose
Feeling stuck and unable to move forward.
With steel beams and the fact that I'm just flesh and bone
Acknowledging that we are physical creatures who are vulnerable to the changing world around us.
We've all been living proof
Everyone can attest to the fact.
That time won't wait or choose
Time keeps moving forward regardless of our desires.
We know it ticks on without me and you
Time doesn't pause or stop for anybody, even those who are gone.
And I can't have both sides
It's not possible to have it both ways.
Letting go or holding tight
Should I release something or try to keep it close?
I'm burning bright tonight
Feeling alive and passionate in the current moment.
And I'm too stubborn to deciiiiiide
Still unwilling to make a decision despite feeling strongly about both options.
Living on a fault line
Continuing to exist in a state of uncertainty and flux.
And I'm too stubborn to decide
Reiterating the artist's struggle to make a firm choice.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind