Show of the Month…Less Than Jake / Goldfinger/ Westbound Train

By: C. Beaz

Less Than Jake / Goldfinger/ Westbound Train
6/23/08 @ Ram’s Head Live, Baltimore, MD

It’s kinda hard to believe it’s been a decade since the whole “third-wave/ska-punk/ska-core” thing was happening! Time just flies I guess. The point is that those bands that were part of that “third-wave” of ska all seem to have picked this year (or last year) to either put out a new record, go on tour, or both (see: Fishbone, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, etc.) Two of those bands happened to be touring together this summer, and I happened to go see them at Ram’s Head Live in Baltimore.

First off, this show was a MUST, simply because of the two headliners. Ten years ago this would have been two separate shows and cost you twice as much. Nowadays ska bands are priced to sell and guys like me are reaping the benefits. If this had been two shows, I might’ve gone to see one…if that.

When we arrived the first band had already started. They called themselves the Suburban Legends and they were from Orange County, California. I know this because they said so after EVERY SONG. Their sound was generic and their songs were predictable. Imagine a band like Save Ferris but actually harder to take seriously.

These guys DID bring something new to the table. Sadly, it wasn’t something good. Instead, it was detailed choreography. These guys had entire dance routines for each song! I don’t mean dance routines like The Temptations…I mean dance routines like NSYNC. That’s o.k. if you are NSYNC but it just didn’t seem right at this show. The nail in the coffin was a ridiculous cover song. EVERY ska band in history has at least one and theirs was “Under The Sea” from the Disney movie “The Little Mermaid”. UGH!

Next up was Westbound Train. Truth be told, this band was the reason I wanted to go to this show. Their latest CD “Transitions” has seen a lot of play time at my house and I was anxious to see them live! I wouldn’t want to say I was disappointed, but they didn’t live up to my expectations. It just wasn’t their crowd. They were a 60’s style soul/ska band playing at a pop/ska/punk show. It wasn’t happening for them. Aside from that they were excellent. I’d like to see them again, playing for their fans not Less Than Jake’s. On to GOLDFINGER…

Goldfinger’s first two records were spectacular examples of poppy California ska/punk. After the second record, everything that did seemed….not good enough. Lucky for me they might have realized that because their set seemed to avoid anything from the later four records. They did a couple off their new record, but mostly older “standards” like “Here In Your Bedroom” (of course) and “Mable”. Their set was definitely the most fun of the night. For “mable” they filled the stage with fans to sing along while they literally disappeared behind them. You could tell that Goldfinger was thrilled that someone still gave a shit!

The highlight of their set though, had to be when they turned the mic over to their drummer Darrin Pfeiffer. He’s always had his little schtick in the middle of everything and it’s always interesting. First he parted the crowd down the middle. Then he had them rush together like a battle scene from “Braveheart”. Then he got a kid to eat a Twinkie out of his ass. Nope, never seen THAT before. Finally, came Less Than Jake. Although I have to say…too little too late.

After watching three bands, the audience was losing steam. LTJ couldn’t seem to keep the energy going. They were good, but I think the crowd had done all the dancing they were going to do. Unfortunately, LTJ let it affect them and it started to seem like everyone, including the band, was waiting for the show to end. Plus, their front man was a douche.

Overall, I give it a “3 out of 5”…or a C- ….whatever the system is.