Less Than Jake: Academy 1, Manchester

Less Than Jake | The Bouncing Souls
Academy 1, Manchester
5th March 2026

Skate and ska-punk stalwarts Less Than Jake and The Bouncing Souls team up for a co-headline that’s equal parts nostalgic and life-affirming.

Back in the early to mid ‘00s, it seemed you couldn’t go a week without another stacked line-up of punk, emo and alternative bands being announced. Whether this be a co-headline tour from the likes of Rise Against & Alexisonfire, or Atreyu & The Bled, or label showcases from the likes of Drive Thru, it wasn’t unusual for two or three of your favourite bands to appear on any one line-up.

All that changed later in the decade. Though likely down to personal music tastes maturing, it seemed to signal an end to the glory days of pop-punk. Or did it? Everything is cyclical, and as baggy jeans, chunky trainers and oversized hoodies seem to be right back in fashion, so too does pop-punk and alternative music, and a co-headline tour between genre stalwarts Less Than Jake and Bouncing Souls is all the proof we need.

Indeed, arriving at Manchester Academy, it’s clear that despite the show not officially being sold out, the venue feels at capacity, and the wall of heat that hits as you enter the main room is stifling. Thankfully, gone are the days of insisting on being front centre, and we take our places near the sound-desk, surrounded by those of us still young at heart, but certainly old at knee.

Not that you’d think it from the way the entire venue erupts as New Jersey skate punks Bouncing Souls bound onto the stage, launching immediately into fan-favourite Manthem. Never ones to do things by halves, even now as they approach their fifth decade as a band, their energy is infectious, washing over the crowd, being soaked up by the older factions of the crowd who, 20 years previously, would have found themselves spending more time on top of the crowd than in it.

It’s just as well they’re able to, with a setlist comprised of just shy of 20 songs in around 45 minutes, it’s breakneck and breathless; the band’s trademark speed turned up further still as classics such as Sing Along Forever, Hopeless Romantic and a cover of Another Thing’s Lean On Sheena all get an early airing.

As one might expect, it’s breakthrough album How I Spent My Summer Vacation that takes the lion’s share of the set, however deeper and earlier cuts do get a degree of airtime, in particular Here We Go and The Ballad of Johnny X. These do bring about somewhat of a lull in proceedings, as does the inclusion of a new, seemingly as yet untitled track. However, pace is soon picked up once more with a trio of tracks that close out the set perfectly. Indeed, Private Radio, True Believers and Gone are something of a holy trinity to close out the set. An upbeat, uplifting and ultimately life-affirming set from one of the most underrated punk bands in the last 40 years. A welcome return to Manchester.

For those of us who’ve seen Less Than Jake before, the anticipation during the changeover is arguably bigger than for those seeing them for the first time. A band who, even on an off day, manage to bring a smile to your face, every show is a party, and tonight is no exception. Kicking things off with Nervous in the Alley, the crowd responds instantly, as moshpits open and the brass-heavy intro gives way into arguably one of the band’s strongest songs. It’s a bold start, establishing a pace rivalling that of The Bouncing Souls. History of A Boring Town follows. Another fan favourite that for lesser bands would be saved for the end of a set, its early inclusion shows just how rich a vein of material Less Than Jake have to mine.

Indeed, tonight’s set is hinged not on any new release but seems more a celebration of the band’s entire career to date. Tracks such as Automatic and Happyman hark back to the band’s early days, whilst Jonny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts, a live staple since forever, elicits the reaction one might expect; a sea of 2000 people dancing, skanking and crowd surfing as if their lives depended on it.

And for some of us, it feels like it does. Sweaty and breathless, it’s a cruel reminder that we’re no longer the spritely 14-year-olds that first saw this band over 20 years ago, despite what we might think. Thankfully, it’s at this point in proceedings that the band turn it down a notch, perhaps knowing all too well that they themselves aren’t as young as they once were. Tracks such as The Science of Selling Yourself Short and The Rest of My Life provide the perfect opportunity to catch our breath before a raucous outing for Plastic Cup Politics sees the crowd erupt once again.

With a co-headline line-up, time constraints are obviously a major factor, and tonight, rather than perform a traditional encore, the band take a breather side stage, before emerging once more and heading into The Brightest Bulb Has Burnt Out. It’s a slow start to the set’s close; however, it sets things up perfectly for the final hurrah in the form of Look What Happened and traditional closer, Gainesville Rock City.

Having seen Less Than Jake probably over a dozen times now, one might assume you’d get tired of seeing them, but the fact remains that every set is a joyous affair, and whilst as this point, they might not be breaking boundaries, they’re certainly warming hearts. And sometimes, that’s all that matters.

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Less Than Jake can be found on Facebook, Twitter and their website.

You can see more of Dave Beech’s writing on Louder Than War here.

Photos by Adam Edwards. You can find Adam at his website,  Instagram and Facebook.