Yes, it’s been over a decade since Less Than Jake’s career-defining album Anthem dropped, but a packed Isthmus Live Session demonstrated that their showmanship is solidly intact.
Vocalists/guitarists Chris DeMakes and Roger Lima visited the Isthmus office on June 24 before the Gaineville, Fla.-based ska punk band’s sold-out Majestic Theatre concert later that night.
“The rest of the band wasn’t allowed to come,” joked Lima before performing an unplugged set of “Good Enough,” from their 2013 album See the Light, and “Soundtrack of My Life” (see video excerpt above) and “Hopeless Case,” from 2006’s In With the Out Crowd.
“We’ve only ever done [an acoustic performance] a few dozen times,” Lima said. “And I’m telling you right now, we’re kicking ass. This is the best we’ve ever done.”
Isthmus Live Sessions is presented by MINI of Madison and Ian’s Pizza. Produced by Isthmus, the video was directed and edited by Justin Sprecher, with additional camerawork by James Kraus and audio by Chris Winterhack. The complete three-song, 11-minute audio set is available for listening below.