Less Than Jake performs at Metro in Chicago on June 26, 2025.
On June 26, The Summer Circus Tour – presented by Riot Fest and featuring Less Than Jake, Fishbone, The Suicide Machines, Bite Me Bambi, and DJ Chuck Wren – treated Chicago fans to an anti-racist, anti-fascist, pro-fun agenda that inspired circle pits and smiles from start to finish. While there were no elephants or death-defying feats on the flying trapeze, the performance – which was the second of two highly-anticipated nights at Metro – rivaled anything seen in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ Greatest Show on Earth.
After short stints from DJ Chuck Wren and Bite Me Bambi, The Suicide Machines kicked off their set with hits from their stellar 1996 album, Destruction by Definition. “Islands,” “New Girl,” and “Break the Glass” – on which bassist Rich Tschirhart absolutely shredded as a circle pit tore through the crowd – were all standouts.
Throughout the night, vocalist Jay Navarro took time out to commiserate with the audience about the current state of global affairs.
“I know there are people who are at least sort of on the same wavelength as us ’cause right now it does not seem like it. War is fucking stupid. Fuck everybody for dropping bombs. I have a personal beef. All my family is basically from Mexico so fuck ICE and fuck Donald Trump too,” he said before guitarist Justin Malek fit a dad joke into the conversation to segue into “High Anxiety.”
The Suicide Machines perform at Metro in Chicago on June 26, 2025.
Navarro also expressed his gratitude to Fishbone for always being an inspiration in music and in life.
“I heard reggae through Bad Brains first. Then I heard The Specials and then I got that first fucking Fishbone EP. And my life has forever been changed and it is truly a fucking honor to be here with fucking Fishbone,” he said. “They are one of the best fucking bands that has ever come out of America.”
“Party at Ground Zero” was the moment of Fishbone’s set and “Racist Piece of Shit” let to one of the best call-and-response exchanges of the entire evening.
Fishbone performs at Metro in Chicago on June 26, 2025.
“This one’s for that racist piece of shit that you know. Hopefully none of them motherfuckers are here. But, if you are here, and you are undercover and shit, this one’s for you. And hopefully, you’re racist piece of shit ass will be converted by the time you leave the building,” said Fishbone vocalist Angelo Moore leading into the song that was inspired in part by the current occupant of The White House.
When it came time for the evening’s headliners, Less Than Jake, fans were encouraged to set their eyes to the center ring just in time to see Chris DeMakes (vocals, guitar), Roger Lima (vocals, bass), Buddy Schaub (trombone), Peter “JR” Wasilewski (saxophone), and Matt Yonker (drums) rush out onto the stage in a frenzy of fun.
Less Than Jake performs at Metro in Chicago on June 26, 2025.
“Gainesville Rock City” and “Lie to Me” started the set and “Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts,” which the band explained is pretty much mandatory to play at this point, soon followed as fans sang along with each and every word. “All My Friends Are Metalheads” and “Rest of My Life” were also highlights of the set and DeMakes detailed how “Automatic” brings up a special memory for the band whenever they play Metro.
“The next song we’re gonna play, we actually filmed a video here in 1996. JBTV was here and they filmed us and we asked if we could use their footage. It actually made it onto MTV. It was played twice,” DeMakes said. “Let’s hear it for us. My mom thought I was something else, let me tell ya.”
It’s clear that Chicago not only thinks that Less Than Jake is “something else,” they know they are a band worthy of the big top.
Check out photos from Less Than Jake’s Summer Circus Tour below and click here to pick-up tickets to future tour dates. More information can be found at Lessthanjake.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
