Before the full onslaught of ska revivalists hit the mainstream, Less than Jake were pounding out their own brand of horn-heavy punk-tinged rock. Though they haven't hit as big as some of the other bands they're often lumped with, like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, last year's "Losing Streak" propelled them onto alternative new artist charts and earned them a spot on the most recent Vans Warped Tour.

The Florida-based six-piece recently returned with Hello Rockview, the band's fifth album to date and second major label release. Once again, they infuse their revved up sound with a heavy dose of light-hearted humor, with songs like "Help Save the Youth of America From Exploding." But the band's success hasn't warped their punk aesthetic -- they still book their own tours, produce their own records, and design their own merchandise. They even auditioned some 250 tapes of West Coast bands to find local opening acts on a short stint. Rolling Stone Network spoke to guitarist Chris (first names only) about dropping out, getting big and becoming a role model.

The album title Hello Rockview, is that a play on the whole "Hello Cleveland" clichT?
I never even thought of that, but that's good. No, it's a couple of different things. The guy jumping off the picture in the front is a commentary on doing the same grind everyday. There's his wife waiting with the martini glass everyday when he gets home. He's kind of saying fuck it. Also, our drummer knew a kid at one time who was down on his luck who he grew up with and ended up going to prison at a place called Rockview. So that's like him saying, "Hello Rockview, here I come."

Who is the song "Richard Allen George ... No, It's Just Cheez" about?

He's this guy that my drummer and I grew up with in Florida. We went to high school with him and stuff. His mom dressed him so hilarious. We're talking boat shoes with no socks, white pants and Hawaiian shirts and he had a spiked haircut with a mullet in the back. Now, ten or eleven years later, he's all punk rock, full of tattoos and lives in Pittsburgh. Basically he refuses to go by anything but Cheez. He's got a Cheez tattoo on his arm. One day Vinnie called him and asked for Rich and his roommate answered the phone and he said, "There's no Rich here. What number are you looking for?" Then Vinnie was like, "Oh wait a minute, is Cheez there?" Cheez gets on the phone and says, "Hey don't ask for Rich, man, that's how I avoid bill collectors."

So, you guys helped out by playing on the Ska Against Racism tour. Was there a lot of racism where you grew up, in Gainesville?

It was a really redneck, white-trash town. Lots of racism, lots of division. It was the hidden racism; no one would admit it but people were racist.

Were there people in your family who you would consider racist?
Yeah, in my family definitely. There still are. It's hard because they're family. It's one of those things where you don't like them, but you've got to love them. It's hard. It's something I'm still dealing with.

Did you have the support of your family when you decided to drop out after three years and pursue the band?

It was a shock more than anything. My mom was really upset and my dad was more scared than anything. I had just turned twenty-one. I was really confused about things. I could have finished school if I really wanted to, but my head wasn't there anymore. The band at that point had taken over. We had started touring. It was hard. But I guess it paid off.

Have you had a lot of kids approach you about advice on starting a band or other issues?

I guess about a year or so ago, I was in New York and this kid came up to me and said, "I just graduated," and he had a big smile on his face. I was like that's cool. I didn't know what the hell he was talking about. He was like, "No, I just graduated and I owe it to you." Evidently, in the year prior to that he was talking to me and -- I actually remember talking to this kid -- he was kind of bummed out and he was down on his luck and he wanted to quit school. I was like, "Quit school? You've got one fucking year left. Buckle down, get Cs and get your diploma. It helps later in life, trust me." It turns out the kid went to school for his senior year of high school and graduated. That was pretty heavy. I never thought of myself in a role model context at all.

Has the success of the last album had an impact on your lifestyle?

Not really. I've been able to put a little money away. None of us are rich by any means. I still don't have a car, nor do I want one.

Do people still ask you about the name of your band?

All the time, especially kids. They have to know everything -- the history of the band. It was more our drummer's idea. He had an eighty-pound bulldog named Jake who ruled the house. They would literally buy it red lobster and bring home ribs and chicken and s---. Coincidentally, the dog died of heart failure. Go figure. This dog ruled the house. Vinnie would be eating macaroni and cheese and peanut butter and jelly and the dog would be eating lobster and shit out of a dog bowl. Everyone was less than Jake in the house.

Do all stories about the ska revival dying out bother you?

You know what? I learned this a long time ago and many people have said it, the minute you listen to critics and start changing, the minute you die. I never thought of us exclusively as a ska band. Definitely I think our latest record doesn't just say we're a ska band. So I think in the general sense of ska, it doesn't really pertain to our band.

So are there any descriptions of your band that you really like?

Yeah. Butt rock.

MARLENE GOLDMAN
(October 27, 1998)