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Less Than Jake

Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida, formed in 1992. The band consists of Chris DeMakes (guitars, vocals), Roger Lima (bass, vocals), Matt Yonker (drums), Buddy Schaub (trombone), and Peter "JR" Wasilewski (saxophone).

Less Than Jake

LTJ

1992–present

  • Chris DeMakes
  • Roger Lima
  • Buddy "Goldfinger" Schaub
  • Peter "JR" Wasilewski
  • Matt Yonker
  • Vinnie Fiorello
  • Shaun Grief
  • Jessica Mills
  • Derron Nuhfer
  • Lars "Slim" Nylander
  • Peter "Pete" Anna

The group released its 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. Borders and Boundaries was released in 2000 on Fat Wreck Chords. The band's fifth studio album Anthem (2003) was the group's 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). The band's eighth studio album, See the Light, was released on November 12, 2013.


The band entered the studio in 2016 to record their latest EP, titled Sound the Alarm, which was released in February 2017 through Pure Noise Records. Their ninth studio album, Silver Linings, was released on December 11, 2020.

History[edit]

Formation and Pezcore (1992–1995)[edit]

Before the formation of Less Than Jake, vocalist and guitarist Chris DeMakes, drummer Vinnie Fiorello, and bassist Shaun Grief led a local band named Good Grief while attending high school in Port Charlotte, Florida. Good Grief broke up when DeMakes moved north to attend the University of Florida. On July 13, 1992, Less Than Jake was born. While Grief moved to New York City (he would later return as the band's roadie), DeMakes and Fiorello began writing songs on the weekends before Fiorello would join DeMakes at the University of Florida.[1] When united, the pair decided they needed a bass player, but first, they wanted a name. Fiorello said:

Side projects[edit]

In 1996, Vinnie and his friend John Janick launched the independent record label Fueled by Ramen, leaving it in 2006.[24] On May 13, 2008, Vinnie launched his new indie label, called Paper + Plastick. In the press release, Vinnie stated the inspiration for the name; "If you think about it, prints and books are the paper side, while vinyl records and toys are the plastic side. It's a simple and to-the-point concept."


Vinnie also owns a toy company called Wünderland War, originally called "Monkey VS Robot". The name was changed due to legal issues. Vinnie has also started a second toy company with a friend called Symptoms. Many of these toys have been featured in art books and shows.


Roger has a side-project called Rehasher, who have recorded an album Off Key Melodies on Gainesville-based record label No Idea Records in 2004. He plays guitar for Rehasher and is also the group's lead singer. Roger also has a recording studio at his home, dubbed as the "Moat House". Some local bands record music here, and Rehasher's second album, High Speed Access To My Brain, was recorded here.


JR composes his own solo music on top of working with a promoting company called the CT Mafia. He contributed one track to the Drive-Thru Records tribute to Bob Dylan, under the name "The Stay at Home Joneses", which also featured secondary vocals by Roger.


In 1996, Vinnie, Chris, and Roger served as backup musicians for Asian Man Records owner Mike Park in The Bruce Lee Band (former sax player Derron also provided horns on some of the tracks).


Buddy is involved in a side band called PB&J, in which he provides the bass, vocals and occasional trombone, as well as the band Black Ice that he plays all instruments for. Buddy is one half of Coffee Project along with Jake Crown, who released a self-titled album on the aforementioned Paper + Plastick label. Together they decided that "a couple of acoustic guitars and a trombone was all they really needed".


Chris has been recording his own solo music while not working with Less Than Jake. He is a guest vocalist on the 2010 album The Seven Degrees Of Stephen Egerton by Descendents guitarist Stephen Egerton. He performed on the Ska Goes Solo Tour with JT Turret of The Arrogant Sons of Bitches and Ryan Eldred of Catch 22 in 2014. He released the song "Up" on the Ska Goes Solo split 7-inch prior to the tour.


Chris also is the host of his own podcast called Chris DeMakes a Podcast. Every week, he and a guest from the world of music discuss the subject of songwriting.

Chris DeMakes – vocals, guitars (1992–present)

– vocals, bass (1993–present)

Roger Lima

Matt Yonker – drums (2018–present)

Buddy "Goldfinger" Schaub – trombone (1993–present)

Peter "JR" Wasilewski – saxophone (2000–present)

Current members


Former members


Timeline

(1995)

Pezcore

(1996)

Losing Streak

(1998)

Hello Rockview

(2000)

Borders & Boundaries

(2003)

Anthem

(2006)

In with the Out Crowd

(2008)

GNV FLA

(2013)

See the Light

(2020)

Silver Linings

Official website