July's SKAspot Band of the Month is Gainesville, Florida's self-proclaimed "Pez obsessed pop punk ska band" Less Than Jake. For more than fifteen years, Less Than Jake has proven to be one of the most influential and versatile bands of third wave ska. With about 10 studio and live albums and countless recordings on vinyl circulating, LTJ is a collector's dream. This is no coincidence as evidenced by the fact bassist Roger and drummer Vinnie are collectors themselves - of Pez dispensers. In fact, this fascination carried over into the name of their first album, Pezcore. Soon after Less Than Jake's debut album was released, Capital Records signed the band and Losing Streak was released. From then on Less Than Jake's fame grew and they became an internationally recognizable band. Less Than Jake has appeared on several labels including Fat Wreck Chords and Warner Brothers. Following the release of In With the Out Crowd, Less Than Jake left Warner Bros. and established their own label, Sleep It Off Records. This came with a re-release of most of their major albums with new artwork and dvd's featuring live performances of the entire albums. Their most recent album, GNV FLA, marks their return to a status as an independent band and the end of a big year for Less Than Jake who managed to fit recording the new album in with an extensive tour. In a relatively short time, Less Than Jake has grown from a local act that could fill a Gainesville Bar to a global sensation that packs stadiums and festivals. This is no doubt due to their exciting stage show which often involves activities ranging from fire-breathing skeletons, clowns, and wrestlers to audience-targeted projectiles like plush toys, silly string, toilet paper, and freebies. Considering stage presence as icing on the cake for a highly talented group of musicians with a vast discography, it's no wonder that Less Than Jake is SKAspot's Band of the Month!
