The Winter Circus rolled into the O2 Academy Birmingham on a Saturday night in a riot of colour and brass, and Less Than Jake proved that three decades in, they’re still one of the most joyously chaotic live bands on the planet.
Less Than Jake @ O2 Academy, Birmingham
Before a single note rang out, one thing was obvious: the Academy was absolutely rammed. In a day and age where the cost of living crisis continues to hit hard, it was genuinely heartening to see a venue packed to the rafters on a Saturday night, every balcony space filled, the floor heaving shoulder to shoulder. Ska-punk loyalty clearly runs deep in Birmingham.
Opening with Nervous In The Alley, the Florida veterans wasted no time whipping the crowd into a skanking frenzy. Frontman Chris DeMakes was all smiles and sharp hooks, trading vocals seamlessly with bassist Roger Lima, whose punchy delivery gave History Of A Boring Town and Automatic extra grit. The Winter Circus theme framed the night perfectly, bright visuals, playful energy, and a sense that anything could happen.
Lie to Me and Last One Out Of Liberty City kept the pace relentless, with drummer Matt Yonker driving the set with precision and power. Stage right, trombonist Buddy Schaub and saxophonist Peter “JR” Wasilewski were magnetic, their brass lines cutting through the room and elevating every chorus into something celebratory.
The first true eruption came with All My Best Friends Are Metalheads. The entire venue sang it back word for word, voices bouncing off the walls and up into the rafters. Walking Pipebomb and Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts followed in quick succession, equal parts tongue-in-cheek and razor tight, before The Science Of Selling Yourself Short became one of the night’s defining moments, strangers with arms around each other, shouting every lyric like it still means everything.
Newer cut Brand New Day slotted effortlessly into the set, proving the band aren’t just trading on nostalgia. Moments later, the gloriously frantic Help Save the Youth Of America From Exploding detonated the pit all over again, the tightly packed crowd somehow finding even more energy.
There was space for reflection too. The Rest Of My Life brought swaying arms and heartfelt singalongs, while Happyman and 9th At Pine balanced melody with momentum. Sunny Side shimmered, giving the brass section room to breathe before the politically charged bounce of Plastic Cup Politics reignited the chaos.
The closing stretch was flawless. The pairing of The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out / Screws Fall Out blended introspection with punchy hooks, before Look What Happened sent crowd-surfers sailing toward the barrier in waves.
Ending on Gainesville Rock City felt less like a finale and more like a communal release — a love letter to their roots and a reminder of why Less Than Jake continues to thrive. Chris DeMakes and Roger Lima’s chemistry remains effortless, Matt Yonker’s drumming is commanding and explosive, and Buddy Schaub and Peter “JR” Wasilewski provide the brassy heartbeat that keeps everything bouncing.
Winter Circus might be the tour name, but at a sold-out O2 Academy Birmingham on a Saturday night, it felt like a celebration of longevity, community, and the enduring power of ska-punk done right.
Live review and photography of Less Than Jake at O2 Academy Birmingham on 28th February 2026 by Nick Allan.
Slaughter To Prevail Level Birmingham On The Grizzly Winter Tour
Share Thing