Ska-punk veterans Less Than Jake have been rolling out singles over the past few months, and today they announced that all four recent singles, the just-released “Sunny Side,” and two others will make up their new EP, Uncharted, due November 15 via Pure Noise. As you know if you’ve been keeping up with the singles, LTJ’s classic sound is still in fine form and they continue to live up to their reputation as lifers of the genre. We’ve got an exclusive electric blue glitter w/ screen print B-side vinyl variant limited to 250 copies, and that’s up for pre-order now in the BV shop. Here’s a mockup:
Here’s what Less Than Jake have had to say about the songs they’ve released so far:
Chris DeMakes and Roger Lima on “Sunny Side”
Chris: Man, the main riff in drop D has been around forever. I wrote that back when we were demoing for the Anthem record. It just never felt right, and was shelved. I never forgot about the idea. This time, Roger wrote the choruses, and I came up with the U2 stadium rock guitar bridge. Matt found the drum feel and groove that I was searching for all those years earlier, and the brass added a horn hook over the big guitar riff – one that rivals any of their catchiest parts. I can’t wait to play this one live.
Roger: LTJ has messed with the slow and heavy vibe on a few songs, but I feel like we finally got it right with “Sunny Side.” Between the grooves, the changes, the horns and the lyrics, we are pumping this one on all cylinders. “Sunny Side” is like a reminder to actively make an effort to live in the present. Move past your old haunts and be the absolute best version of you that you can.
Roger Lima on “Broken Words”
Hey guys! 2024 brings us some new LTJ songs, and this is a fun one! “Broken Words” has the ska, the pop-punk, and the horn lines that feel like a party and I can’t wait to belt this one out on stage! It happens to me, too. I’ll try to say something, (maybe I didn’t choose the best words, but I tried), they get misinterpreted and I end up unintentionally communicating something I didn’t mean at all. Know that feeling? Yeah, words are totally broken sometimes.
JR Wasilewski on “Walking Pipebomb”
The world has been contentious as of late. Many voices battling for who can scream the loudest about whatever the talking point of the moment is. For myself, I focus on being kind to everyone and staying out of the fray. But, from time to time, people do their best to drag me down to them – and are successful. These are the moments when I want to explode. I can’t contain my rage. This song is representative of how I feel at those moments.
Chris DeMakes on “Not My Problem”
This song came about in the 11th hour. I was messing around with a synthesizer loop one night, which became the part you hear for the intro of the song. The whole song was built from that, and it came together super fast. The main guitar riff is quirky and fun. The lyric is classic LTJ. A really fun song mixed with a sad lyric. As for the meaning, that’s for the listener to figure out.
Matt Yonker on “Brand New Day”
Looking back, it always feels like things were less hectic “back in the day”, right? Sometimes it feels like we need a positive catalyst to kick start a less stressful life experience; something that will bring us all closer together, and spread the unity we all felt when we were kids.
Less Than Jake opened one of NOFX’s final shows this past weekend, and they have more US dates coming up this month that will find them performing their classic 1998 album Hello Rockview in full. All dates are listed below.
For more on Less Than Jake, read our 2020 interview with Roger and our 2021 interview with JR and Kill Lincoln’s Mike Sosinski (surrounding the split 7″ those two bands released that year).
Tracklist
1. Broken Words
2. Walking Pipebomb
3. Not My Problem
4. Brand New Day
5. Sunny Side
6. Dead Days (Over And Over)
7. Shake Loose The Truth
Less Than Jake — 2024/2025 Tour Dates
10/11 – Tacoma, WA @ Elks Temple *
10/12 – Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre *
10/14 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades *
10/15 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst *
10/16 – Ventura, CA @ Ventura Theater *
10/17 – San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park *
10/18 – Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole *
10/19 – Las Vegas, NV @ Fremont Country Club *
11/6 – Honolulu, HI @ Republik *
10/25 – Melbourne, AUS @ 170 Russell
10/26 – Adelaide, AUS @ Hotter Than Hell – Coopers Alehouse
10/27 – Perth, AUS @ Freo Social
10/29 – Wollongong, AUS @ Waves
10/30 – Sydney, AUS @ The Metro
11/1 – Newcastle AUS @ King St Bandroom
11/2 – Townsville, AUS @ Hotter Than Hell – Kirwan Tavern
11/3 – Brisbane, AUS @ Hotter Than Hell – Chardons Corner
5/24 – Hatfield, UK @ Slam Dunk Music Festival
5/25 – Leeds, UK @ Slam Dunk Music Festival
* – Performing Hello Rockview in entirety