Gainesville,
FL - 16 years in this hyper-transient music scene is
practically unheard of, but don't tell that to punk/pop/ska
band Less Than Jake, who aren't only soldiering
on with planned new music for mid-2008 but re-releasing back
catalogue with bonus material. But before they get started,
they needed to take back control and return to the D.I.Y. spirit
that embodies their music and their headspace. Voluntarily emancipated
from their record deal with Warner Bros. recently even though
they still had one more album in their contract, the band decided
to create their own label Sleep It Off and
continue their rich legacy, unhindered by major label requirements
and sometimes questionable budgets. "It's
an amazing concept that a band can actually participate in 360
degrees of its career," explains founding member/drummer
Vinnie Fiorello. "After a decade an a
half of being in the band, we are now our own bosses for real
and the excitement of that can peel paint off the walls."
The first four
re-releases out of the gate on March 18, 2008 will
be Goodbye Blue And White, Pezcore,
Losers, Kings And Things We Don't Understand and
a DVD of Peoples History Of Less Than Jake.
Packed with new artwork and a bonus DVD component for each of
the albums, these will not only be must-haves for their legion
of fans but a great introduction to the new breed of indie punk
kids. "We wanted to start with Losers, Kings, And Things
We Don't Understand, which was our first recorded material
as a band," Vinnie continues. "These literally are
some of the first songs we recorded together, and it seemed
obvious that it should be one of the first releases on our newly
started record label Sleep It Off. As a musician, the
fact that I can help not only in creative marketing but release
the actual audible history of our band on our own label is mind
blowing. I think it's a great time for the Music Industry that,
despite the lagging sales, you are allowed to write and rewrite
the rules. These days, it's like the Old West, so to speak."
The excitement
isn't just limited to the band and its fans however. Wonka
Vision Editor-in-Chief Justin Luczejko
reminisces, "In 1999, the Wonka crew
drove in a Philly ice storm to see Less Than Jake at LaSalle
University. We didn’t know the opening bands at the time
(Lifetime and Weston – go figure) but they all showed
up and played for about 25 kids who danced their hearts out
ALL NIGHT long. At the time before I started Wonka Vision
Magazine (11 years ago), I saw Less Than Jake in Philly
more times than any other band. No one compared to their live
show (throwing out Pez and water pistols?? Come on!). Wonka
will support Less Than Jake till the day that they stop
playing music. They are one of the hardest working, most energetic
bands in rock today and they deserve every ounce of gratitude
they earn."
Less Than Jake
will be entering the studio in March to record their ninth album,
due out Summer 2008. "We're holed up in Fort Hooker,
our warehouse, finishing up songs and dodging the homeless that
hang around the parking lot," he adds. "With the new
record, we've been more focused on heavy horns and lots of melody.
I personally look forward to some time in the studio. I miss
that cabin fever feeling."
Advances of these
re-releases will be available in very limited quantites.
The band will also be available for interviews.
For more information, please contact:
Rey Roldan
(201) 223-9078
rey@reybee.com
|
Gary
Strack
(610) 462-6525
gary@reybee.com |
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