Pete's Log: Less Than Jake + Zebrahead

Entry #1706, (Music)
(posted when I was 32 years old.)

3177 days after the first time I saw them, I finally made it to another Less Than Jake show. This time at Backstage in Munich.

After work last night I headed to Tim's place for a quick dinner before we headed to the Backstage. I had bought four tickets, but only Tim and I were able to get to the show. I made a halfhearted attempt to sell tickets before deciding we should head into the venue, since it was cold outside. In line, the guy behind us asked if this was also the line for buying tickets. I simply offered him one of my tickets. I now felt I had recouped enough of my costs and was ready to enjoy the show.

We got into the venue just as Bomb the Music Industry! was finishing up. I was amused to see their trombonist and lead singer in the middle of the dance floor. Tim found it somewhat worrying. I did find it annoying to have missed their set, since we got in at about 19:40 and the tickets said the show started at 20:00 (doors open at 19:00). On the other hand, Bomb the Music Industry! was not listed on the ticket.

At 20:00 Sonic Boom Six started their set. They are a ska punk group from the UK. They sounded pretty good, though they had a hard time getting the crowd going. The main problem was that you always knew their song was going to end as soon as they started a call-response. Perhaps you should give the crowd more than one chance to respond before you end the song. But they did work in some Operation Ivy, so that was cool.

The next act was Zebrahead. They were phenomenal. After their set I felt I had already got my 23 euro worth of entertainment. They've apparently been around since 1996, so I feel I should have heard of them before. But they played a great high-energy set and really got the crowd going. They were also incredibly funny. And they featured at one point a masturbating tiger.

Finally Less Than Jake took the stage. They didn't look any older than I remember them from eight years ago. They also put on a great show. I knew more than half the songs, which I thought was pretty good, given that I haven't actually kept up on their music in the past eight years. They also played the Animaniacs theme song, which was incredible. I was disappointed when the show came to an end.

After the show, the line for the coat check was too long for us, so we decided to have another beer while we wait. We went outside briefly for some fresh air, and when we came back in, Chris, the guitarist for Less Than Jake, was walking past us on his way to the bar. He had said at the end of the show that we all should buy him beers, so Tim went up to him and offered to buy him a beer. He accepted. So Tim and I briefly drank beer and chatted with Chris of Less Than Jake. Incredibly cool.

We then went to check out the merch stand. All of Sonic Boom Six were standing around, as well as the guitarist of Zebrahead. So we chatted briefly with him and Tim talked to Sonic Boom Six while I bought myself a Zebrahead hoodie (I have a hoodie addiction). I chatted with the merch guys and they knew Crested Butte. I tipped them two euro and a one dollar bill I had in my wallet. In exchange I got two guitar picks.

This was easily the best concert I've seen in Munich, and top five all time. It was ridiculously fun. And Zebrahead is coming back next summer, so will need to try to see them again then.