Less Than Jake, Fishbone, & friends get Riverside skankin’

By the time the sun dipped behind the historic arches of the Riverside Municipal Auditorium on August 1st, the air was already buzzing with anticipation. Fans decked out in vintage band tees and checkerboard Vans gear swarmed the venue, ready to skank, shout, and sweat through a night of ska-punk glory. The lineup? A dream bill for anyone who’s ever two-stepped through a Warped Tour parking lot: Less Than Jake, Fishbone, Suicide Machines, and Catbite.

The lights hit hard and fast as Catbite kicked off the night.

Catbite‘s set was equal parts sass and soul. Their blend of modern ska and pop-punk was magnetic, with frontwoman Brittany Luna commanding the stage like a riot grrrl reincarnated. “Not Your Baby” hit like a punch to the patriarchy, “Talk” had the crowd singing along like it was a hometown show, and “Bad Influence” and “Creepin’” kept the energy high and the crowd moving.

Suicide Machines hit the stage next with the kind of raw energy that has made them relevant for years. “Too Much” and “Awkward Always” were reminders of the band’s melodic hardcore roots, while “Never Go Quiet” and “Permanent Holiday” turned the pit into a swirling vortex of limbs and liberation. It was punk with purpose and the crowd soaked up every second of it.

Then came Fishbone, the genre-defying legends who’ve been blending ska, funk, punk, and soul sounds since the Reagan era. Frontman Angelo Moore — dressed to kill, as always — exploded onto the stage with the manic charisma of a preacher at a punk revival meeting. New tracks like “Gelato the Clown” and “Racist Piece of Shit” from their latest album Stockholm Syndrome hit hard, both musically and politically. But it was classics like “Party at Ground Zero” and “Ma and Pa” that reminded everyone why Fishbone is still one of the most electrifying alternative live acts on the planet.

The band didn’t just play — they detonated.

And then, the moment everyone had been waiting for, headliners Less Than Jake took the stage. The Gainesville ska-punk stalwarts came out like conquering heroes, launching into “Gainesville Rock City” with the kind of tight, joyful energy that only hometown pride can do. “All My Best Friends Are Metalheads” turned the venue into a singalong sanctuary, while “Last One Out of Liberty City” closed the night with a triumphant blast of brass and nostalgia. If you thought ska is dead in this day and age, think again and head to a Less Than Jake show near you!

Photography by Sean McCracken

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