Gainesville, Florida natives LESS THAN JAKE announce the release of the new live album ‘Live From Astoria’, set for an April 29th release via Rude Records and Saint November Records (for the UK vinyl).
The collection of Less Than Jake classics was recorded exactly 15 years ago, on the third night of a three-day run at the legendary London venue in April 2001.
Comments saxophonist Peter “JR” Wasilewski: “The London Astoria was always a special place for us. For a certain time it almost felt like a home-coming every time we played there. For us to be able to play multiple nights there on several occasions needed to be documented somehow. We hope our fans enjoy it as much as we did making it!”
Adds drummer Vinnie Fiorello: "..The Astoria always felt electric when we played there and it translates on this live recording.. "
The ‘Live From Astoria’ release will coincide with LESS THAN JAKE’s GROEZROCK appearance, recently announced together with 4 shows in the UK and one in France.
Catch them at the following shows!
APRIL
29th Groezrock, Meerhout, Belgium 30th Le 106, Rouen, France
MAY
02nd Hippodrome, Kingston, UK 03rd O2 Academy, Liverpool, UK 04th O2 Academy, Leicester, UK 05th O2 Academy, Oxford, UK
ABOUT LESS THAN JAKE
Twenty four years into its pioneering journey, Gainesville, Fla., natives Less Than Jake – comprised of lyricist/drummer Vinnie Fiorello, vocalist/guitarist Chris DeMakes, vocalist/bassist Roger Manganelli, saxophonist Peter "JR" Wasilewski, and trombonist Buddy Schaub – have had their fair share of moments. Throughout a career that has run the gamut from self-releases and small indie imprints to large independent labels and major music conglomerates, LESS THAN JAKE has always been more than the sum of its parts. Now more than ever, though, they espouse their stature as a DIY collective that works together—or at least in tandem with a few trusted allies—on every element of their creative output. Drummer Vinnie Fiorello recalls, “We started out very internal, and nowadays we handle a lot internally again.
For a band obsessed with interacting with its fans, both online and after shows; for a band that is so concerned with making sure the fan gets the perfect experience, with well-known hijinks in every live performance; for a band with seemingly unlimited creativity in the form of physical products, from custom-made cereal boxes to unique vinyl packaging; and for a band that is so passionate when writing new music, 24 years begins to seem like an even longer amount of time. A lot of moments add up over two decades – teenagers grow into men over two decades – dare we say, things change?
Ever-adapting to the constant change in an unsure music industry, Less Than Jake is still making cannonball-sized splashes in the deep end while many of its peers timidly eye shallow waters.
“We're constantly pushing ourselves to come up with new ways to present the band,” says Schaub, “whether it be within the writing of our songs, ideas for keeping our live shows fresh, coming up with crazy new merch ideas, or just coming up with the best joke in the van. Keeping your band new and innovative is the key to lasting around for more than a minute in the minds of fans. If this counts as a job, sign me up for another 20 years!”
Echoing Mark Twain, Vinnie Fiorello points out that the rumors regarding their genre’s demise are greatly exaggerated: “Punk has been declared dead every year for 30+ years and it’s still going stronger than ever. People like to declare things dead just because it’s dead to them, but if bands are passionate about what they’re doing, they’ll attract fans who are passionate.”
As fits a band born long enough ago to now be of legal drinking age, Less Than Jake pulls in a multi-generational audience, which Vinnie notes is often a family affair. “Our crowd now is 16 to 40, and I’ve met kids as young as eight or nine. Dads bring their sons and it’s a weird rite of passage; moms bring kids in saying, ‘We’ve watched you guys for 15 years.’ But will the band stick around long enough to draw in a third generation of fans? “I don’t know man. I think our guys on that would be NOFX and Bad Religion. When you see Fat Mike or Bad Religion hang it up, maybe: but like them, we’re gonna ride that out.”
We’re glad to be along for the ride!
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