The ska-punk party on 1st March, 2026, included Bar Stool Preachers, The Aquabats and The Bouncing Souls
It’s time for the biennial headline tour visit of Gainesville, Florida’s superstar ska-punks Less Than Jake to the shores of the UK. This year they’ve adopted a circus theme, which fits in perfectly with their flamboyant and humour-filled stage show! Bringing The Bouncing Souls from New Jersey and The Aquabats from California across the pond with them, this tour’s lineup is completed by British band Bar Stool Preachers – much to my delight!
This is also my first gig back at Brixton Academy since the venue reopened in 2024, and it’s clear that a complete review of queuing and entry procedures has been implemented, following a fatal crowd crush on December 15, 2022 that killed two people. We now start the queue in the street on the other side of the building, with several checkpoints as we progress manned by security staff. We’re being held next to the tour buses and vans, which means I get to say hi to Less Than Jake‘s bassist Roger Lima and to Bar Stool Preachers‘ drumer Alex Smith, as my friend Adriana and I wait at the front of the line.
The sloping floor of Brixton Academy is already filled with people when Bar Stool Preachers open the show at the early start time of 6.15pm. We’re hoping to hear new material from their forthcoming album, ‘Party Eternal‘, but the band have been given a very short 30 minute slot and stick to the older classics.
I’m not complaining – ‘Trickledown‘, ‘Choose My Friends‘, ‘Flatlined‘ – where our ‘”woah-oh-oh-ohs” are so loud, singer TJ McFaull tells the crowd to shut up (ha ha!) – their great cover of Cock Sparrer‘s ‘Suicide Girls‘ and of course the first song BSP ever wrote, ‘One Fool Down‘, are more than enough to whet our appetities and warm us up. Closing with ‘Bar Stool Preacher‘, it’s encouraging to see as much enthusiasm in the crowd as on the stage!
I was wondering why so many of the audience were wearing costumes.. this all becomes clear when The Aquabats charge onto the stage! Led by The MC Bat Commander (lead singer) and Crash McLarson (bass, vocals), the whole gang are wearing matching black surf shorts and aqua-blue rash vests, with silver swimcaps and black fabric goggles – just like their fans.
The entertainment begins with several inflatable sharks thrown out into the throng to accompany opening number ‘The Shark Fighter!‘; these compete with the crowd surfers for airspace.. The Commander gets in on the action too, making his way along the barrier for hi-fives before heading into the heart of the crowd.
‘Dr Space Mummy!‘ makes an appearance, as does a Yeti – but these songs are all so catchy, we’re bouncing and singing along without any additional encouragement. Giant inflatable pizza slices appear for ‘Pizza Day!‘, and are soon appropriated as surf boards for those travelling above our heads!
Huge beachballs are thrown between the stage and the crowd, where the game seems to be to hit as many band members as possible, The Aquabats having us enjoying a ‘Super Rad!‘ ‘Pool Party!‘. They may not be the best band around, as they modestly admit, but they sure as heck are the most FUN!!
There are loud roars for The Bouncing Souls! Many folk are clearly delighted that these guys are on the bill tonight, and they are repaid with a stunning 50 minute set during which the band barely pauses for breath. Singer Greg Attonito has the crowd in the palms of his hands from the start, with guitarist Pete Steinkopf and bassist Bryan Kienlen also equally mesmerising to watch.
The atmosphere is incendiary from first song ‘Manthem‘ through ‘Late Bloomer‘, ‘That Something Special‘, ‘Sing Along Forever‘ (we do!), and ‘Kids and Heroes‘ to a mass singalong with ‘Lean on Sheena‘. Drummer George Rebelo works hard, keeping the groove going at a relentless pace!
We’re also treated to a new song – ‘All As One‘ perhaps? I didn’t catch its title, but I did capture it on video – see above! Needless to say, it goes down just as well as everything else played from the band’s impressive back catalogue tonight. Adriana is beyond happy – she loves this band, and eagerly joins in with the crowd surfing, which has been increasing exponentially over the course of the evening!
The Bouncing Souls‘ impressive 17 song set concludes with a terrific trio of tunes; ‘Hopeless Romantic‘, ‘True Believers‘, and ‘Gone‘, which once again sees the audience joining in at the tops of our lungs. You’d think we’d be tired after two hours of music already, but no, we’re saving our last ounces of strength for the main act..
I have held my position on the barrier all evening so I would be right in front of bass supremo Roger. The people to my left have stuck it out too, although it becomes increasingly clear that they were utterly unprepared for how much it was going to go off once Less Than Jake hit the stage with a double whammy of ‘Nervous in the Alley‘ and ‘History of a Boring Town‘ from 1998’s ‘Hello Rockview‘! I am very glad when all 4 of them finally decide to leave, as the young lad next to me has spent the whole show sticking his elbow into me while he kept one hand glued rigidly to the barrier..
This was utterly uneccessary as I was only dancing and singing along, certainly not shoving anyone, and I didn’t appreciate my dance space being restricted by a stone statue.. It’s dancers and moshers up the front kids – we know how to have a great time! Security are kept busy with a pyroclastic flow of bodies of all shapes and sizes sweeping over the barrier – and we giggle as one guard collapses under the weight of a larger crowd surfer – it’s ok, they’re all smiles and nobody is hurt.
Singer and guitarist Chris DeMakes is definitely happy to be back in London again – LTJ always get a great reception here! He’s on good form as he blasts through more songs from ‘Rockview‘ and ‘Losing Streak‘; ‘Last One Out of Liberty City‘, ‘All my Best Friends are Metalheads‘, ‘Automatic‘ and ‘Johnny Quest Thinks we’re Sellouts‘ which sends us into a frenzy!
Cheeky and cheerful trombonist Buddy Schaub is up to his usual tricks, pulling faces, leaping wildly arund the stage and adding his voice when Chris gets a little fatigued! Meanwhile Peter “JR” Wasilewski uses his saxophone as a conductor’s baton when he’s not playing it, but he mostly stays on his side of the stage, so I don’t get such a clear view of him.
Roger Lima is all flying leaps and swinging dreadlocks as he coaxes sweet sounds from his bass that most could only dream of.. Chris makes special mention of drummer Matt Yonker, who is holding it all together perfectly at the back while the shenanigans out front don’t appear to faze him one bit.
The party atmosphere continues with Roger taking over lead vocals for ‘The Science of Selling Yourself Short‘, before we all go totally nuts over ‘Happyman‘ and ‘9th At Pine‘. I’m still singing along, albeit in spurts as I keep getting winded when the masses behind me surge forward and my ribs hit the barrier. Can’t feel any pain though, I’m enjoying myself so much!
Less Than Jake are celebrating album anniversaries tonight, but they also include newer song ‘Sunny Side Up‘ from their 2024 EP ‘Uncharted‘ in the set – video below! Roger is back at the main mic for the bouncing ‘The Ghosts of Me and You‘ and the energetic ‘Plastic Cup Politics‘ to close the main set.
Returning very sooon for the encores, we’re stoked to hear the emotional ‘The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out‘ / ‘Screws Fall Out‘ follwed by ‘Look What Happened‘ and ‘Gainesville Rock City‘, before Less Than Jake take a well-earned bow to thunderous applause and cheers.
Honestly, I coudn’t have asked for a better show to celebrate my quantum birthday (I’m a Leap Day baby!) – all four bands were exciting, enjoyable, energetic and engaging. The huge sense of fun pervaded throughout, with each band contributing their own brand of humour, and we just grinned and laughed from start to finish, and on the whole journey home!
Catch the Winter Circus on its remaining UK dates:
Thu 5th March – o2 Academy, Manchester
Fri 6th March – o2 Academy Leeds
Sat 7th March – Barrowland, Glasgow
Main Photo Credit: GAVIN SMITH
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Usually found jumping around down the front at gigs, I also relish taking photos and videos, singing, speaking with fellow music fans, and asking musicians the questions nobody else does. Writing about my favourite bands and connecting with people who love music too keeps me more-or-less sane! I’ve worked for over 25 years at a video production company, mainly filming live music events, therefore I have an additional backstage perspective on the scene.
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