Less Than Jake: ska-punk stalwarts

(Credit: Dennis Ho)

Few bands know how to show audiences a good time like Less Than Jake. The ska-punk quintet with the killer sense of humor has been hosting high energy, stage-diving concerts for the better part of two decades. Despite being pretty much dumped by two major labels and never scoring a legitimate radio hit, Less Than Jake retains a loyal following of revelry-loving punk, rock, ska and emo enthusiasts ranging in age from tweeners to thirtysomethings. Since forming in 1992 in Gainesville, Fla., the band has evolved from a scrappy punk power trio playing cramped and crazy University of Florida keg parties to rocking spacious venues around the world with their taut, horn-laced attack.

We reached guitarist/vocalist and founding member Chris Demakes at his home in the Tampa suburb of Wesley Chapel. Demakes riffed on Less Than Jake’s recent departure from Warner Bros. Records, the band’s liberal—and at times dangerous—stage diving policy, and who he’ll be hanging with backstage during this summer’s Warped Tour.

I caught a fairly recent Less Than Jake gig in St. Petersburg and it seemed a fan jumped off the stage every few seconds. Is that how it goes everywhere you perform?
They try everywhere. Some places are more difficult depending on the distance between the barrier and the stage, and how big the bouncers are. If they’re the size of linebackers, the kids won’t get too close.

Is fan stage diving ever a problem?
All the time. They grab a guitar, think they’re part of the show, they have to go. There’s a time and place for everything. I’m not there for the two idiots who got up on stage. I respect those two kids, but the minute they start grabbing me around the neck or guitar, they’re gone.

From what I’ve seen, you’re very generous about allowing fans on stage.
We don’t mind it. Usually it’s cool and they do something funny like drop their pants.

Last summer, Less Than Jake released its latest studio album, “GNV FLA,” on your own label, Sleep It Off Records, rather than Warner Bros. What prompted that decision?
I’m going to be completely honest. We weren’t selling records on Warner Bros. We got out of our contracts with Capitol and Warner because we’re not Fall Out Boy. They didn’t know how to market us; we weren’t on radio. When we wanted to leave they were like, “OK, there’s the door.”

Will you profit as much on “GNV FLA” as your last Warner Bros. release?
It’s only been about nine months so we’re still waiting to see other monies. Eventually, we’ll be seeing more money by putting it out ourselves instead of turning over a big chunk to a label for doing nothing. Put it this way, though, every musician is either going to tell you being on a major label is great or horrible. But neither answer is completely true. Major labels can be great—like if we sold five million records! But we didn’t. Whatever. I’m not going to s--- on major labels. If we would have sold millions and had that payoff, things would be different.

What was life like for Less Than Jake when you were attending the University of Florida?
We played keg parties. Parties straight out of “Animal House.” Windows breaking, everything. People saw drums, heard loud guitars, and thought that gave them credence to start smashing s---. I don’t think we even got paid for our first 20 shows.
 
Less Than Jake has entered its 17th year. You are now officially music veterans. Are you comfortable with that term?
I think so. It’s weird, you could probably ask Aerosmith or Metallica, who definitely deserve the title way more, the same question and they’d tell you the same thing: It’s all kind of a blur. It’s happened so fast. I still feel 18—not in my 30s.

What’s the key to your band’s longevity?
I think the fact that, ultimately, at the end of the day, our philosophy has been it’s the five us in the band versus everybody else. We’ve always stuck together. We’re all still friends, we still have fun. That’s the only reason we still do this—we enjoy it. We’re not making millions; we don’t fly in private jets. We all live together on the same bus on tour and have that camaraderie. You can’t fake that.

You’re doing Warped Tour again this summer. Can you describe the backstage party to those who have never witnessed the fun?
You end up making friends with everybody. Everyone is there for same reason. You play a 30-minute set and then hang out, have barbeque or something. That’s why they call it “the punk rock summer camp.”

Who do you plan on hanging with this year?
The older guys! NOFX, Bad Religion. We also like to hang with the newer bands. We’ve never had a band we toured with that didn’t like us. We get along with everybody—we don’t care what kind of music your band plays. We just like to have fun.

I was backstage at Warped Tour a couple years back and [NOFX frontman] Fat Mike was telling me how he loved playing Texas Hold ‘Em—and taking all the young guys’ money. Was he telling me the truth?
He was absolutely telling the truth! I don’t gamble or play cards but I’ve seen someone lose three grand to him and flip over the table in anger! I don’t partake. But I like to watch.

What’s the best way to pass time on the road?
Sitting in the back of the bus with my guitar and writing songs. I also read rock bios.

What book are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading a Willie Nelson biography.

Do you see Less Than Jake continuing another 17 years?
I wouldn’t rule anything out just due to the fact some kid is turning 13 every second and wants to see a band they’ve never seen before. It’s definitely a possibility, as long as you keep halfway healthy, and not gain 400 pounds!