Less Than Jake (Concorde 2, 12.7.15)
St Albans' Trash Boat opened the show. They play pop-punk that's reminiscent of The Story So Far, singer Tobi Duncan frequently mimicking that band's shouty confrontational vocals. They had some promising riffs but too frequently their songs lacked nuance, mostly thrashing power chords as quickly as they could. Not terrible by any means but not a set that will linger long in the memory.
It struck me as I left the sweatbox by the sea that is Concorde 2 last night that it had only been four months since I'd last seen Less Than Jake, at Koko in London. A lot of the same schtick was still present and correct: getting an audience member up on stage to dance, toilet paper rollers, massive branded balloons and cringeworthy audience banter. Truthfully, they don't need the gimmicks because the songs themselves are so good. An energetic opening salvo of "Scott Farcas Takes It On The Chin" and "Happyman" is particularly inspired.
Within about 6 songs I retreat to the back of the room, the rigours of a busy week starting to get to me. It's a strong set selected mainly from their "Hello Rockview" and "Losing Streak" records, the only duff note being "Overrated". It's comfortably the band's worst single, strangely jettisoning the talents of Buddy Schaub and JR Wasilewski on the trombone and saxophone respectively. The former particularly shines tonight, his solo at the start of "Nervous in the Alley" proving a particular high point.
I hear a couple of grumbles about the band's 70 minute stage time and it's true they could and probably should play for at least an hour and a half. But frankly it's enough for me tonight. They also correct the near inexcuseable mistake of that Koko gig by finishing on the classic Gainesville Rock City.
"Well I'm half awake, half a world away, all my past mistakes and every wasted day, I wouldn't have it any other way". Amen.
It struck me as I left the sweatbox by the sea that is Concorde 2 last night that it had only been four months since I'd last seen Less Than Jake, at Koko in London. A lot of the same schtick was still present and correct: getting an audience member up on stage to dance, toilet paper rollers, massive branded balloons and cringeworthy audience banter. Truthfully, they don't need the gimmicks because the songs themselves are so good. An energetic opening salvo of "Scott Farcas Takes It On The Chin" and "Happyman" is particularly inspired.
Within about 6 songs I retreat to the back of the room, the rigours of a busy week starting to get to me. It's a strong set selected mainly from their "Hello Rockview" and "Losing Streak" records, the only duff note being "Overrated". It's comfortably the band's worst single, strangely jettisoning the talents of Buddy Schaub and JR Wasilewski on the trombone and saxophone respectively. The former particularly shines tonight, his solo at the start of "Nervous in the Alley" proving a particular high point.
I hear a couple of grumbles about the band's 70 minute stage time and it's true they could and probably should play for at least an hour and a half. But frankly it's enough for me tonight. They also correct the near inexcuseable mistake of that Koko gig by finishing on the classic Gainesville Rock City.
"Well I'm half awake, half a world away, all my past mistakes and every wasted day, I wouldn't have it any other way". Amen.
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