Less Than Jake are:
From thier roots in Gainsville Florida Less Than Jake have evolved into a ska-punk hybrid with influences of bands like the Ramones, Specials, Operation Ivy, among others. But their sound is distincltly different. Their live shows, which have taken place everywhere from 15,000 seat arenas to condemnation-ready divas (for acts as varied as Green Day, Bootsy Collins and Voodoo Glowskulls), usually end with an array of stuffed animals in the clutches of an army of worn, sweaty, happy, danced-out, youths, many chanting LTJ's patented hook-laden choruses with throats cracked hoarse, most of whom exhibit sprayed silly string dangling from their hair - all staples of the LTJ live experience.
They were fueled from the start by the band's passions - Chris' infatuation with early '80s anything (particularly The Dukes of Hazzard and Quiet Riot), Vinnie's rabid obsession with the Pez universe, and the many avocations of saxophonist Jessica, a high school English teacher who skates vert and specializes in almost all artisan crafts. LTJ formed as a three-piece in the summer of 1992, adding horns about six months later. The name, for those of you not familliar with odd North American volcabulary actually means not up to par, or not quite standard. Jake being a word which can mean good, swell, niffty, or any of those other fun "good words". It also refers to Vinnie's bulldog Jake, who as the story goes, was weaned on Red Lobster meals while Vinnie was fed nothing but TV dinners while growing up; hence Vinnie's been "less than Jake" for years.
Less Than Jake has a whooping 23 different releases, ranging from home grown 7-inch's to international CD compilations. Their full length debut, "Pezcore" on Dill Records, sold 8,000 in its first four months and Losers Kings and Things we don't understand has done as well if not better.
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