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/
We The Uninspired
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cuts and bruises will always heal
But you still pick your poisons
When you dream of alcohol and pills
Hey Miss "Die A Little"
How do you expect yourself to live?
Punch me awake
There'll be no white flags over the heads
Of the sick and tired
This world is for the living not the dead
But we're still the uninspired
Hey Mr. "Always Wonder"
Why's the inside of your head so filled?
'Cause you can't see your future
Through all the walls that you've ever built
Hey Mr. "Always Wonder"
How do you expect yourself to live?
Punch me awake
We're the uninspired
There'll be no white flags over the heads
Of the sick and tired
Maybe it's the standing still that kills
What's alive inside us
This world is for the living not the dead
But we're still the uninspired
March me in with the rank and file,
Bury me in deep denial,
I'll sit here and gladly smile,
With the rest of the uninspired
Punch me awake
We're the uninspired
There'll be no white flags over the heads
Of the sick and tired
Maybe it's the standing still that kills
What's alive inside us
This world is for the living not the dead
But we're still the uninspired
We're still the uninspired
The lyrics of Less Than Jake’s song “We the Uninspired” express a sense of disillusionment and frustration with life. The verses are divided into two distinct narratives: one to “Miss Die A Little” and another to “Mr. Always Wonder”. The first narrative describes a person who seems to be struggling with addiction and self-destructive tendencies, but who also seems to be somewhat resigned to her fate. The second narrative describes a person who is unable to escape his own mental barriers, which prevent him from finding purpose or direction in life. Both narratives come together in the chorus, which declares that the world is for the living and not for the dead – but that, despite this, the singers and their peers remain “uninspired”.
The song’s message can be interpreted in different ways, but one possible interpretation is that “uninspiration” is a symptom of being too comfortable and too safe. The singers are challenging themselves and others to break out of their routines and confront their fears, instead of simply accepting their circumstances. The repeated line “punch me awake” suggests a desire for a wake-up call, a jolt of energy and motivation that could help them see the world with new eyes.
Overall, “We the Uninspired” is a reminder that life is short and that one should strive to make the most of it, even if that means taking risks and facing challenges. The song encourages listeners to look beyond their own limitations and find inspiration in the world around them, rather than simply accepting a mundane or unsatisfying existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Miss "Die A Little"
Addressing someone who is self-destructive and choosing unhealthy habits.
Cuts and bruises will always heal
Physical damage is fixable, but mental and emotional damage can be more long-lasting.
But you still pick your poisons
Despite knowing the potential consequences of harmful choices, people often still choose them.
When you dream of alcohol and pills
These are specific vices often used to numb pain or escape reality.
Hey Miss "Die A Little"
Reiterating the idea that self-destructive habits are not a healthy way to live.
How do you expect yourself to live?
Challenging the person to think about the decisions they're making and their overall quality of life.
Punch me awake
Wake me up to the realities of life.
We're the uninspired
Feeling a lack of motivation or direction in life.
There'll be no white flags over the heads
Refusing to give up or surrender to the struggles of life.
Of the sick and tired
Referencing those who are struggling or exhausted from challenges in life.
This world is for the living not the dead
Reminding us that life is precious and meant to be lived to the fullest.
Hey Mr. "Always Wonder"
Addressing someone who may have big dreams or aspirations but has trouble taking action or making them a reality.
Why's the inside of your head so filled?
Asking about the person's thoughts and ideas that seem to be stuck inside their head instead of acted upon.
'Cause you can't see your future
When you can't visualize what your future might look like, it's hard to move towards it.
Through all the walls that you've ever built
Personal boundaries and emotional scars can prevent someone from moving forward with their goals.
Hey Mr. "Always Wonder"
Reiterating the idea that someone who is stuck in their head without taking action will not be able to achieve their goals.
How do you expect yourself to live?
Challenging the person to consider how their current behavior or lack of action is impacting their life.
Maybe it's the standing still that kills
Being stagnant or inactive can feel like a slow death.
What's alive inside us
Things like curiosity and passion may still be present, despite feeling uninspired.
March me in with the rank and file,
Feeling like just another unremarkable person amongst the masses.
Bury me in deep denial,
Ignoring problems or uncomfortable emotions can lead to a deeper sense of disconnect and apathy.
I'll sit here and gladly smile,
Pretending to be content with a lackluster life.
With the rest of the uninspired
Joining others who may not feel a sense of purpose or direction in their lives.
We're still the uninspired
Reinforcing the feeling of being stuck in a rut or lacking a sense of motivation.
Contributed by Aaron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.