Hello London: Less Than Jake comes to the City

Tonight, a friend and I went to see a concert at the London Astoria featuring the ska punk powerhouse Less Than Jake. It was my fourth time seeing the band, but it was the first time I had seen them in a couple of years. They were one of my favorites in my younger years in the ska scene in CT, and I still revisit their music quite often. I was lucky to find someone to go with me who was just as excited to see them again.

The Astoria seems like a cool venue, and many very big names have played their at some point on their rise to super-stardom; but sadly, after the beginning of next year, this venue will probably cease to exist to make way for the Crossrail project (another subway line in London). The city as pledged to build a replacement. At least I had the chance to visit it once before its destruction, a chance I wish I had for CBGB before it moved from its history Bowery Street location in Manhattan to Las Vegas.

After playing an amazing set full of old favorites and fresh new sounds, and also the obligatory confetti cannons, Less Than Jake payed tribute to the venue they would play in for the last time, and took a group bow to the audience and then to the stage.