Less Than Jake ready for a good time with stacked Hotter Than Hell fest line-up

Legendary US ska punk band Less Than Jake is promising to bring the fun during their first visit to North Queensland as part of the Hotter Than Hell festival. See who else is playing.

US ska punk band Less Than Jake – Chris DeMakes, Roger Lima, Buddy "Goldfinger" Schaub, Peter "JR" Wasilewski, Matt Yonker – is coming to Townsville this November. Picture: Supplied.

In more ways than one, it’s going to be Hotter Than Hell in Townsville very soon.

Other than the rising temperature, the namesake music festival Hotter Than Hell will be burning up the stage at the Kirwan Tavern on November 2.

Touring nationally, the festival boasts an impressive line-up of Australian alternative music royalty including Regurgitator, Jebediah, Little Birdy, and The Bennies.

Also for the ride are Floridia’s ska punk legends Less Than Jake – who are no strangers to the heat.

Featuring brass instruments, especially horns such as trumpets, trombones and woodwind instruments like saxophones, ska punk fuses the genres of ska and punk rock – reaching mainstream success in the mid-to-late 1990s, thanks to bands like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Reel Big Fish.

Less Than Jake has kept ska fans skanking in the moshpit to their upbeat tunes for over 30 years, garnering acclaim for their 1998 album Hello Rockview, which will be played in full during the tour.

Regurgitator, Less Than Jake, Jebediah, Little Birdy, and The Bennies are locked in to play at the Kirwan Tavern. Picture: Supplied.

Speaking ahead of their return to our shores after a six year absence, the band’s saxophonist and occasional singer Peter “JR” Wasilewski said they couldn’t be happier to be heading back.

“Unfortunately, due to beer, I forgot most of (my memories about Australia) … I think there was a koala one time and Gordy from Frenzal (Rhomb) another time, that’s about it,” JR joked.

“From what I recall, Australian crowds are wild. I can’t wait for that again. I’ve never been (to North Queensland) but I hope they don’t have hurricanes like Florida as well – yikes.”

He said playing Hello Rockview in full was a continuation of the album’s 25th anniversary.

Less than Jake L-R: Chris DeMakes, Roger Lima, Peter "JR" Wasilewski, Vinnie Fiorello, Buddy Schaub.

“I’m not sure if it’s our biggest (album), but people respond to it well. We’ve had it on tour for the last year and a half, off and on. Every crowd has loved it.

“This will be the last time Hello Rockview is performed live ever again so we saved the best for last.”

He warned North Queenslanders to expect “songs, laughter, and fun. It’s what we do best … theoretically”.

For more information and tickets, visit: hotterthanhelltour.com.au

Hotter Than Hell

• When: Saturday, November 2

• Where: Kirwan Tavern

• Featuring: Regurgitator, Less Than Jake (US), Jebediah, Little Birdy, The Bennies

Originally published as Less Than Jake ready for a good time with stacked Hotter Than Hell fest line-up