Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish and Zebrahead

Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish and Zebrahead

Manchester Academy

February 3rd, 2014

According to the internet pop punk is dead but try telling that to the two and a half thousand people that helped sell out tonight's show at the Manchester Academy.

Starting the night were Zebrahead, from California, consisting of  Ali on Vocals, Dan on Guitar, Ben on bass, Ed on drums and Matty on vocals and guitar.

Their set consisted of songs from across their discography including the title song of their latest album 'Call Your Friends', along with 'Sirens', 'Rescue Me' and 'Hello Tomorrow'.

We were also treated to a special rendition of 'Manchester, Drink Till You Pee!' and two 'real life Germans' in lederhosen chugging beer.

The Zebrahead guys had a brilliant stage presence, a lot of innuendo and sexual references but they had the crowd singing and jumping along.  This is one band that isn't suitable for younger ears but for the adults among us they are a must see.

Zebrahead are back in Manchester in May and I'm now counting the days until their return!

Next up were Reel Big Fish from Orange County California.  These six guys are a ska punk band with massive personality who really know how to get a party started.

Made up of Aaron on vocals, Billy on trombone, Johnny Christmas on trumpet, Ryland on drums, Derek on Bass and Matt on Sax, these guys played a good length set consisting of songs such as 'Everyone Else Is An Asshole', 'Sell Out' and 'Beer'.

Reel Big Fish also had two guests joining them on stage for 'She Has  A Girlfriend Now' as they introduced Leila and Barney from Manchester band Sonic Boom Six.

Finishing with a cheeky cover of A-ha's 'Take On Me' they lifted the roof!

Between the catchy lyrics and the onstage antics you get much more than your average band and I guarantee you won't be able to stop yourself dancing/bouncing along.  I would not hesitate to go and see Reel Big Fish again.

Last on the bill tonight are Less Than Jake, a ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Made up of  Chris on vocals and guitar,  Roger on vocals and bass,Vinnie on drums, Buddy on trombone and JR on saxophone.

Again these guys played a good length set and really had the crowds dancing and bouncing along as they played songs from right across their 22 year career. 

They also managed to sneak a cover song into their set as they launched into their rendition of The Offsprings' 'Self Esteem'.

All three of the bands managed to get good circle pits going but the most spectacular had to be during the last song of the night, 'Gainesville Rock City', which saw the pit spread across half of the room.

The show tonight is the best party I have been to in a long time, for both entertainment and atmosphere, and I can assure you, punk, whether it be pop punk or ska punk, is definitely not dead!