Although formed in 1992 as a power pop trio with heavy punk leanings, Less Than Jake steadily transformed into a ska-inspired punk band with the addition of a horn section. Vocalist/guitarist Chris Demakes, bassist Shaun, and drummer/lyricist Vinnie Fiorello formed the first incarnation of the group, which took root in Gainesville, FL. After Shaun became the group’s roadie, however, he was replaced by bassist Roger Manganelli, who picked up the instrument just to join the band. During 1993-1994, the group added its first horn player, Jessica Mills, and soon after came trombone playerBuddy Schaub. Right before their first tour, however, Schaub went to Europe with friends, so saxophonist Derron Nuhfer filled in for shows during his absence.

With various 7″ releases under their belt, Less Than Jakedebuted in 1994 with the album Pezcore, on Dill Records.Losers, Kings & Things We Don’t Understand and Greasedfollowed on No Idea until the group signed with Capitol for its major-label debut, 1996′s Losing Streak. The album was full of the band’s wry, fast-paced brand of ska-punk anthems, producing such fan favorites as “Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts” and “Jen Doesn’t Like Me Anymore.” Upon the album’s completion, Jessica left to pursue teaching, and (ex-Slapstick trombonist) Pete came on board. Around this time,Fiorello also started his own record label, Fueled by Ramen, with friend John Janick. Hello Rockview followed in 1998, and spawned a minor college radio hit with “History of a Boring Town.” In fall 2000, the band released Borders & Boundaries on Fat Wreck, as well as landing the opening spot on Bon Jovi‘s North American tour.

Nuhfer left the band after the album’s recording (and later went on to join Gunmoll), and Less Than Jake found his replacement in ex-Spring Heel Jack horn player Pete Wasilewski – though to avoid any name confusion within the band, the second Pete was dubbed JR, and remained JReven after the first Pete decided to leave soon after the 2001 Warped Tour. Over the years, Less Than Jake has issued more 7″ and limited-edition vinyl releases than most people can keep track of, so the bandmembers compiled some of their favorite tracks on one record for 2002′s Goodbye Blue and White, named in honor of their original tour van. Anthemfollowed in 2003 for Sire; B Is for B-Sides was issued a year later, comprised of tracks that did not make it to Anthem‘s final cut. The DVD retrospective People’s History of Less Than Jake appeared a month later. The four-song EP Absolution for Idiots and Addicts was released in April 2006, with their next full-length, In with the Out Crowd, following a month later. The latter’s album slicker, pop-oriented nature received mixed reactions from fans. In 2007, Less Than Jake announced that they had left Warner Bros.; a year later, the group formed the Sleep It Off label and released GNV FLA, an album loosely based on (and dedicated to) their hometown. Their ninth album, See the Light, arrived in the fall of 2013.

Reel Big Fish were one of the legions of Southern California ska-punk bands to edge into the mainstream following the mid-’90s success of No Doubt and Sublime. Like most of their peers, they were distinguished by their hyperkinetic stage shows, juvenile humor, ironic covers of new wave pop songs, and metallic shards of ska. The group cultivated an underground following that broke into the mainstream in summer 1997, when the single “Sell Out” became a modern rock radio and MTV favorite.Reel Big Fish‘s popularity gradually waned in the subsequent years, following the decline of ska-punk as a marketable genre. Nevertheless, the band restructured its lineup and continued issuing new material to a smaller (yet considerably rabid) fan base.

Based in Huntington Beach, California, Reel Big Fish were originally a trio comprised of vocalist/guitarist Aaron Barrett, bassist Matt Wong, and drummer Andrew Gonzales. At that stage, the group was a conventional rock band with pop-metal leanings that covered both classic rock and Top 40 songs — essentially, it was music designed for frat parties. After several months, the band discovered ska and decided to bolster its lineup with the addition of horn players. Reel Big Fish had a difficult time maintaining a stable horn section, and it took several years before their final lineup — featuring Tavis Werts (trumpet), Scott Klopfenstein (trumpet, vocals), Grant Barry (trombone), andDan Regan (trombone) — fell into place.

This definitive incarnation of Reel Big Fish recorded its self-released debut album, Everything Sucks, in 1995.Everything Sucks became a word-of-mouth underground hit in ska-punk and college circles, which gave the band enough leverage to sign with the indie label Mojo Records. The label’s president, Jay Rifkin, and former Oingo Boingo bassist John Avila co-produced Turn the Radio Off, which marked the band’s first album for Mojo. Turn the Radio Off was unleashed in August 1996, and over the next year, Reel Big Fish continually toured in support of the album’s release, expanding their fan base all the while. In spring 1997, the single “Sell Out” began receiving heavy airplay from several influential modern rock stations in the U.S., which soon translated into MTV support for the song’s quirky video. By summer, the song had become a moderate modern rock hit, and the album had charted in the Top 100. In July 1997, Reel Big Fishreleased the Keep Your Receipt EP, which contained “Sell Out” and several outtakes, new songs, and live cuts. Why Do They Rock So Hard followed a year later, and in early 2000 the band returned with a reissued version of Everything Sucks.

The guys wound up on Jive Records in fall 2001 when their current label, Mojo, was bought by Jive’s parent label, Zomba. Reel Big Fish‘s first release for Jive, a rock-oriented record entitled Cheer Up!, appeared in mid-2002. Years of touring followed, during which the band shared stages with the likes of Sum 41, Catch 22, Lucky Boys Confusion, the Matches, and Zebrahead. Replacement drummer Carlos de la Garza (formerly of Suburban Rhythm) eventually decided to leave the lineup, and his last show with the group was recorded live at Anaheim’s House of Blues in June 2003. A DVD of that performance, The Show Must Go Off!, was released by the end of the year, and the band’s next album, the cynical yet catchy We’re Not Happy ‘Til You’re Not Happy, was issued in April 2005. By this time, the group’s lineup had shifted to includeBarrett, Regan, Klopfenstein, Wong, new trumpeter John Christianson, and drummer Justin Ferreira (who was later replaced by Ryland Steen).

Touring continued for the rest of the year, and Reel Big Fishhappily parted ways with Jive in January 2006, having wished to be dropped from the label since Cheer Up!‘s release. A co-headlining tour with MxPx followed that summer, allowingReel Big Fish the chance to gain their footing as an independent band. In August, the group self-released a double-disc live CD (along with an accompanying DVD) titledOur Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album. A few months later — and much to the annoyance of the band — Jive issued its own Reel Big Fish album, a best-of compilation entitled Greatest Hit…and More. Reel Big Fishreceived no money from the album’s sales, as Jive Records now owned the rights to the bulk of their songs.

Nevertheless, Reel Big Fish returned with some new material in February 2007, splitting an EP (Duet All Night Long) with their friends in Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer. Monkeys for Nothin’ and the Chimps for Free followed several months later, marking the group’s first full-length studio release since leaving Jive’s roster, and 2009′s Fame, Fortune and Fornication found the band covering songs by the likes of Poison, Slade, and Tom Petty. In 2011, longtime memberScott Klopfenstein left Reel Big Fish to focus on raising a family, with Goldfinger‘s Matt Appleton taking over for him. The following year, the band released its first album of new material in five years, Candy Coated Fury.