08 November 2008 (gig)
13 November 2008
Ska has come in for a bit of stick. Actually that’s an understatement. Most people outside the genre ridicule it mercilessly. Well you can silence your eyes this minute as Less Than Jake have proved beyond all reckoning that whilst Ska probably wont reach the pinnacle it did a few years ago, it is by no means dead in the water.
Hitting the ground running with a fist pumping rendition of 'My Best Friends a Metal Head' the band illustrate the power they still command over their legions of fans. And believe me by tonight’s standards their fans are still legion. Fanatical in their response to every word and every riff, the crowd ripped it up like no tomorrow. Pits opened and closed with irrepressible regularity and the band charged through classics such as 'The Science Of Selling Yourself Short'.
There was no time, no reason to let up. At a mere 60 minutes it was over far too soon but Less Than Jake made the most of it, even filming 'Conviction' for their new music video. Needless to say the crowd went berserk, opening up the kind of circle pit I’ve only previously witnessed at Slayer gigs. The fans were reassuringly young energetic and above all f*cking thrilled to be there. It’s a delight to witness such devotion.
The encore shafted all expectations with a bewilderingly seismic climax of fireworks, 'Gainesville Rock City' and truly ecstatic skanking. Less Than Jake put on a show worth every penny you pay for them. Ska may not be your favourite beverage but if you want to have a laugh, forget about your problems and let loose the dogs of war for a night I urge you to do yourself a favour. Go to a Less Than Jake concert.
