This is about the third time I’d seen Less Than Jake (not counting the Warped Tour) and they always put on a really fun show. Their humorous hijinks and witty comments and stories just don’t get old. I have to say that I think this is the wildest Less Than Jake show I’ve ever had the pleasure to attend. Things really ignited when they played “Johnny Quest.” That’s when I was repeatedly slammed into the stage and into one of the monitors.
Front man Chris is the constant joker and joked about getting the “glove treatment” at an airport in Canada because he had been arrested at age 17. I don’t know if the story was true, but it sure was funny to hear him tell it.
Bass player Roger sported long dreadlocks roaming all the way down his back and often took over on lead vocals. He totally hammed up to the audience, riling them into a heated frenzy on one side of the stage (I did mention I was slammed into the stage several times), while trombone player Buddy ran back and forth riling up everyone.
Anyone remember Pac Man breakfast cereal? Apparently it existed at one time and there was a commercial for it. LTJ played a cover of the song played in the original commercial. I can’t say my life is richer for knowing there was once a Pac Man cereal, but it’s richer for having seen LTJ perform it.
Rounding out LTJ are sax player, JR (dubbed Mr Personality by his bandmates) and drummer Vinnie. Disappointed they didn’t do Dope Man and if I have one criticism of many of the bands, it’s their constant glamorization of drug and alcohol use. Although this was a 21 and up show (which I also don’t like as I feel youth should have equal access to live music), abusing drugs is no laughing matter and shouldn’t be made light of. All in all though, this was a tremendously fun night. I’m still recovering and nursing a bruised elbow that got jammed into a monitor.
Big D and the Kids Table came on prior to LTJ. It had been a few years since I saw them last (again, not counting Warped Tour). They used to play Studio Seven awhile back, but haven’t played here in at least six years. I can’t begin to describe how gloriously fun it was to see them again.
Front man David McWane is one of the most energetic and charismatic performers ever. Obligatory golf cap firmly in place, he was all over the stage, strutting and leaping about and making wicked facial contortions. The entire band had tons of energy and opened with LAX, in which my being slammed repeatedly into the stage began. I felt like a pinball and like my legs would be chopped off at the hips. I ducked stage divers and crowd surfers so many times I felt like a bobble head. Trombonist Logan La Barbera never stopped moving. Even when blowing his horn he kicked up his heels. Drummer Derek Davis sweated profusely, but never once did he have a hair out of place.
David constantly thrust his mic into the crowd for audience sing-alongs. Things calmed down for a short period before igniting again when the band played My Girlfriend’s On Drugs. Rounding out Big D and the Kids Table are, Ben Basile (a name that fits his profession) on bass, Ryan O’Connor on saxophone, and Alex Stern on guitar.
Opening the whole shindig was LA’s The Interrupters. I saw them just this last summer opening for the Bosstones. You know how you see a band that really wows you and you wonder if you’ll ever see them again? The Interrupters really wowed me so I was thrilled to learn I’d see them again. They were just as good this time.
Front woman Aimee Interrupter, dressed all in black including black hair and black eyeliner and a leather jacket, belted out song after song while constantly leaning into the crowd, goading them into forming a writhing mosh pit.
The rest of The Interrupters are three brothers, Kevin (guitar), Justin (bass) and Jesse (drums) Bivona. They wore black trousers and shoes with white shirts and black suspenders. Kevin and Justin constantly run back and forth across the stage, swapping places. This is a young band and I wonder if the brothers aren’t triplets. They look very much alike and appear to be about the same age. They’re a totally incredible band, though and just released their debut album (on vinyl with a CD along with). I listened to it all the way down to Tacoma. I highly recommend this band.
I left the club limping, drenching with sweat and very stiff and sore and wondering how long my body will permit me to do this. The mind is still very willing.
