House of Music

Less Than Jake

Emo’s Austin

Austin, TX

August 11th, 2025

Photos and Review by Roy Vergara

The atmosphere inside Emo’s was electric even before doors opened. When opener Catbite took the stage at 7:05 pm, the crowd was ready for a full-on ska revival. The five-piece band immediately got the audience moving with energetic grooves and brass-fueled hooks. Lead vocalist Brittany Luna commanded the room with effortless charm while the horn section maintained the lively energy. By the end of their 7:30 pm set, the pit was already in full motion.

The Suicide Machines took the stage at 7:45 pm and immediately ignited the crowd. Frontman Jason Navarro kicked things off by calling for a circle pit, though in reality, the pit never truly stopped all night. Enthusiastic fans circled and leaped joyfully as Dan Lukacinsky’s rapid-fire ska-punk riffs elevated the energy even further. Crowd surfers sailed overhead while the floor remained in constant motion. The band kept the audience completely engaged until their set concluded at 8:20 pm.

Fishbone took the stage at 8:36 pm, bringing their unmistakable blend of funk, punk, and ska. Saxophone in hand, Angelo Moore commanded every inch of the stage with boundless energy. Their set featured groove-heavy jams, playful audience interaction, and even included the night’s first female guest vocalist. By the time they wrapped up at 9:08 pm, the room buzzed with anticipation.

Less Than Jake stormed the stage at 9:36 pm with “Gainesville Rock City,” igniting an immediate crowd explosion. Bassist Roger Lima engaged fans from the start, cracking jokes with the front row and playfully ribbing Maroon 5. The band then blazed through fan favorites including “Lie to Me,” “Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts,” “Walking Pipebomb,” and “Metalheads.” Trombonist Buddy Schaub and saxophonist JR Wasilewski powered the brass section with thunderous energy while the mosh pit whirled in perpetual motion.

The charismatic personality that has kept Less Than Jake a live staple for decades was on full display. Fans sang enthusiastically during “Brand New Day” and belted out every lyric of “The Science of Selling Yourself Short.” The band continued surprising the audience with an unexpected “Animaniacs” theme cover before launching into fan favorites “Al’s War,” “Plastic Cup Politics,” and “History of a Boring Town.”

The main set concluded with “The Rest of My Life” at 10:35 pm. After a brief pause, enthusiastic chants of “Less Than Jake” summoned the band back onstage for an encore featuring “Liberty City,” “Help Save the Youth of America From Exploding,” and “Look What Happened”. By 10:45 pm, the floor glistened with sweat, voices had grown hoarse, and smiles radiated throughout the venue. The Austin stop of the Summer Circus 2025 tour transcended an ordinary concert, feeling more like a reunion where each song represented a collective memory and every chorus became a communal anthem. As the house lights brightened, the lingering crowd’s reluctance to depart offered the clearest testament to an evening thoroughly enjoyed.

Check out the gallery below to relive the night or see what you missed.

Catbite

The Suicide Machines

Fishbone

Less Than Jake