Get ready for shenanigans. Florida-based ska punks Less than Jake are bringing their high-energy live show to Victoria for the very first time. After 20 years in the ska-punk music scene, the Gainesville, Florida band will give fans lots to be excited about when they hit the stage.
“You know, we haven’t played there before,” says vocalist/guitarist Chris Demekes. “Hopefully people will come out, and I’m expecting we’ll have a good time.”
As you might have surmised, 20 years of being in a band has provided a wealth of insight in terms of touring and playing shows for Demekes and his bandmates.
“We’ve been a band for so long that we know people everywhere, so you kind of know what friends you’ll see and what kind of shenanigans you’re going to get into before you even get to that town,” he says.
Demekes explains that the band has been touring with the same members and crew for quite some time, but that doesn’t make the adventure of being on tour any less exciting for them.
“Every day it’s different,” he says. “You know you’re in a different town, a different situation with a different set of characters that are there, so you never know what you’re going to open the bus door and step into the street to. Especially in the downtown area of some of these cities. It’s definitely one big adventure every time we pull into a new city.”
When it comes to preparing for their shows, Demekes says that it’s pretty tame before Less than Jake take the stage.
“We all have a couple beers, nothing too crazy. I’ll stretch out my groin muscle a bit and maybe sing a bit to warm up my voice, then we hit the stage. It’s not much more than that,” he says.
According to Demekes, the band has one primary goal for every live set they play, no matter where they are performing on any given night.
“You know a lot of people work really hard and they’re spending their hard-earned money to come,” he says, “so if they can just leave their problems at the door for a couple hours and have fun then we did our job.”
Joining Less than Jake for the show will be fellow ska-punk veterans and good pals Reel Big Fish.
“We’ve gotten along with them forever,” says Demekes. “It’s going to be a blast.”
Less than Jake
Wednesday, October 17, $29.50
Club 9one9
strathconahotel.com/club90ne9