LESS THAN JAKE BROUGHT THE HEAT AND ENERGY TO AN ALREADY SWEATY BERLIN
Written and Captured By | Chantal Burau
Less Than Jake stopped on their European Tour 2026 at Columbia Theater in Berlin, with A Wilhelm Scream and The Suicide Machines as support.
Despite the summer heat and a handful of fans outside hanging out and trying to find some fresh air, the room was already filling up during the first set of the night from ska-punk outfit The Suicide Machines. With the side doors open and some fans on stage (mainly for the bands), the atmosphere was already lively. Opening with booming instrumentals and barely any breaks between songs, the quartet from Detroit blended their classic ska-punk anthems with aggressive hardcore elements, setting the tone for the evening as the first mosh pits broke out early in their fast-paced set.
Next up were A Wilhelm Scream, continuing right where The Suicide Machines left off. They heated up the audience with a nonstop, high-energy set featuring seamless shifts from fan-favorite songs to older records and newer cuts, giving the crowd no room to slow down. They encouraged the sweaty audience to move closer to the front, with even more people joining the mosh pit.
The room filled up once again, even more than for the previous sets, when it was time for Less Than Jake to hit the stage. The Gainesville third-wave ska-punk outfit was greeted with euphoric whistles and cheers from the audience before launching straight into their high-energy, horn-peppered ska-punk party. They entertained not only with their music and stage presence but also with their banter between themselves and the fans, as well as their anecdotes. One memorable moment came when a fan asked them to play “All My Friends Are Metalheads” again because he had missed it the first time (the song had been the third on the setlist). The band briefly discussed the request but ultimately stuck to the planned setlist. They also surprised and impressed the crowd with their German language skills.
Their energetic live sound, driven by punchy drums, sharp trombone and saxophone lines, and powerful guitars, kept the energy high and the mosh pits moving throughout the set. The setlist featured a balanced mix of fan favorites alongside older and newer songs, with the audience singing along just as enthusiastically to each. The addition of giant balloons during the show added another highlight to the festive atmosphere. They rounded out their performance with a three-song encore, ending the entertaining evening with “Gainesville Rock City” and leaving the fans happy, sweaty, and wanting more.
