Reel Big Fish & Less Than Jake: Let It Spill Forth

Reel Big Fish & Less Than Jake w/ The Interrupters
The Showbox, Seattle, WA
05.13.15

Mega ska lords Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake set up camp on their summer tour at the Showbox, putting a fancy spit and polish on an otherwise dreary Seattle Wednesday. The all-ages house was packed from wall to wall, but even in the crowded, hot mess, everybody was having a genuinely good time. The circle pit was to be feared, the horns blazed, and the beer flowed; all bases for a kick-ass night of ska were covered.

For more than two decades, Reel Big Fish has been handily putting a hook on every line. From an underground favorite to a not-so-quiet, mainstream ska success, to their current status as revered veterans of the scene, RBF still draws an audience like nobody’s business. And for good reason. Taking the stage, they went right into “Everyone Else Is an Asshole,” and, while the audience finished the catchy line, RBF took the opportunity to shout, “Except you guys! You guys aren’t assholes!” And with that, a great performance ensued, full of hilarity and sharp tunes. Lead man Aaron Barrett addressed the audience after the first song with some self-deprecating humor: “How you guys doing tonight? Give it up for Less Than Jake! Give it up for the Interrupters, oh my god! Two great bands and then Reel Big Fish came on stage…” With a polished sensitivity for all things ska and bright fashion, their trademark style made the stage pop that much more. They threw in a blip of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and as the crowd sang along, RBF abruptly stopped, and began their quips: “You may not have noticed, but that song is over… [Yeah, fuck that song in the ass!] You guys havin’ a good time tonight? Is anyone seeing Reel Big Fish for the first time tonight? Ask someone next to you and they’ll tell you that we’re normally really good.” Synchronized stage kicks wrapped up the evening, playing “Sell Out” to a sold-out house. Clearly, there must be something to it…

This was a particularly great pairing for the tour. Less Than Jake put on an awesome set, full of terrible jokes, crazy moves, obnoxious balloons, and unsoiled toilet paper. Beginning with a brief announcement regarding “stupid social media” and crappy picture-taking, crowd focus was expected to be spent on off-key singing, binge drinking, and bad dancing. Everyone hit at least two of those marks; the guy next to me definitely hit all three, most particularly the latter. Starting their set with a bang, literally from a confetti cannon, Less Than Jake front man Chris DeMakes gave the obligatory introduction – Gainesville, ya di ya da… “Good evening Seattle! We’re back at the soap box, who woulda’ thunk it?! There’s a strip bar across the street called Showgirls – I personally think they should be called the Showbox… It’s really hard to see you so you have to be extra loud and extra obnoxious… Thank you for coming to Showgirls tonight, so let’s party!” Totally hilarious and completely engaging, the audience bumbled and fast-clapped through seventy-five minutes of pure fun. Some other notable snippets include, but are not limited to: “That was punk rock! Very impressive for… what is it, a Wednesday? I thought I was drinking alone… Did anyone celebrate hump day today? Does masturbating count? [Not when you can only get it up once!] Let’s all pretend it’s 1998 right now, let’s just flash back – this song’s called ‘Good Enough.’; “You know what I love about the Pacific Northwest? You guys are peaceful and loving… I like that it can be shitty and rainy and miserable outside and you guys can still have a good time. It’s like England, but you guys have good teeth.” As toilet paper guns smothered the audience with value-brand crapper paper, and columns of steam shot from both sides of the drum set, Less Than Jake turned this show into an entertaining spectacle, a ska-themed carnival – like true professionals.

LA-based ska foursome The Interrupters tipped off the evening in glorious, catchy fashion. Releasing their debut self-titled album last August, lead lady Aimee Interrupter brings another dimension to their solid, polished sound with her gritty, guttural vocal stylings. They only had a half-hour set, but the impression that they left was quite impactful. I heartily encourage ska enthusiasts to look them up and give them a listen, and absolutely catch them live if the opportunity arises.

Reel Big Fish Set List (verbatim):
½ A$$hole
All I W@nt !$ Mor3
Alternative, Baby
Kids Don’t Like it
She’s Famus/Tube Top
Brown Ey3d &irl
Trendy/Your Guts
Suckers/Kss Me Ded
I Know U/Sh# Has a G.F.
Where H@ve U Bin/Hedfnz
$ell Out
Encore:
$R / B33R / T@ke on M3

Less Than Jake Set List (verbatim):
*LOOK WHAT HAPPENED*
NERVOUS
GHOSTS
*GOOD ENOUGH*
DOUG HASTINGS
AUTOMATIC (W/GB)
SUGAR
HARVEY WALLBANGER
*OVERRATED*
*J-QUEST*
SCIENCE
ANCHOR/SOBRIETY/PACMAN
GIMME SOMETHING
FARCAS
PLASTIC CUP
Encore:
BULBS/SCREWS
HISTORY
*METALHEADS*