Less Than Jake
Before this show review even begins, I have a confession to make: I just don’t see the appeal of ska. Obviously I’m in the minority because plenty of people in Winnipeg love it hence the large amount of local bands and all of the people skanking along at the show tonight. You’re probably wondering why I even bothered then and that’s because while I hate ska, I like Less Than Jake. They’ve always sounded more like a pop punk band with horns that an actual ska band and to me that makes all the difference.
After well over a decade of being a band, Less Than Jake finally debuted in Winnipeg Tuesday evening. The band were seriously welcomed with an overwhelming response, I’m dead serious when I say that aside from Green Day back in 2005, this Gainesville Florida five piece has gotten by far the best response from the crowd I’ve seen so far. Pretty much everyone was enthusiastically piled up against the barricade dancing and that’s not something you see every show. Tons more knew the words and were singing along too, again something that doesn’t always happen at that calibre.
While the band released a new record titled GNV FLA this past summer, LTJ were more concerned with playing older tracks like Last One Out of Liberty City, Al’s War, Great American Sharpshooter, Look What Happened, The Science of Selling Yourself Short, History of a Boring Town, Automatic, Dopeman, Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts and Sugar in Your Gastank. Obviously, I think it’s safe to say the band chose a stellar set list.
Of course, another thing about this band is that they don’t just like to play, they also like to joke around between songs. The band had confetti guns go off during All My Best Friends Are Metalheads and Gainesville Rock City plus singer/guitarist Chris Demakes was quick to make jokes about dildos. And who can forget the band inviting Jesus onstage to initiate a chugging contest? Ultimately, Less Than Jake are what bands should strive to be, not only are they entertaining but they also know how to play their songs flawlessly.
Here’s where the bias comes in and it’s with Reel Big Fish. The crowd loved them but they didn’t convince a hater that ska is amazing. True, I’ll admit they had some amusing moments, like when they took one of their songs and played it like how they would if they were a death metal band but for the most part, it just seemed like they try too hard. Opening with their greatest hit Sellout, the band ploughed through a set that seemed to consist of cheesy joke songs about lesbians and beer before ending with Trendy. Again though, the crowd seemed to love it so it what do I know?
The Flatliners and The Real Deal were the openers and they both played a brand of punk infused pop with a bit of reggae thrown in. While both bands sounded a little too similar to one another, those Canadian acts still proved to put on good sets.
When: September 23, 2008 at the Garrick
Final Verdict? 4/5
Reviewed by: Deborah Remus
*Check out an interview conducted before the show with the band here!
