It was a multi-generational hoedown at The Van Buren last week as dads, kids, teens and more dads crowded into the Phoenix venue to dance with Less Than Jake. The ska punk staple band brought their Summer Circus Tour- and all their friends- to Arizona and the audience was ready to sweat everything out with this incredible lineup.
The Suicide Machines provided the night’s direct support, riling up the audience with their politcally charged version of ska punk. The fans were ready to let out some strong emotions, yelling along as singer Jason Navarro leaping onto the barricade to get right up in the crowd’s faces to get their message across. Fans flung themselves at the barricade and treated The Suicide Machines like it was fully their show and that energy fueled a short but powerful set. By the time the band left the stage, attendees were digging deep into the reserves for the last act at the circus.
Less Than Jake’s onstage antics have thrilled audiences for over 20 years and their enthusiasm has never wavered. With so many generations of fans represented in the room on Friday night, the band poured their spirit into a rowdy show that encouraged skanking, two-stepping and plenty of crowd surfing- whatever it took to express the joy shared between artist and audience. With saxophone and trombone in hand, circus props flanking the stage and nearly 20 songs of material to sprint through, the members of Less Than Jake made the fans a part of the show and all the fun.
By the time we hit “Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts”, the band’s crew had already covered the first section of the crowd in toilet paper and seen dozens of sweaty diehards launched towards the stage. They kept the vibes high throughout their set, returning for a three song encore that sent everyone home thoroughly exhausted but never disappointed. The smiles on the faces of parents as they watched their children dance to the same music they were raised on was a wholesome sight and just one memorable part of another stop on Less Than Jake’s crazy Summer Circus.
