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Punk Rock Under the Big Top: Less Than Jake’s Summer Circus Storms Chicago
- Ernesto Raul Aguilar
- Jun 28
- 3 min read
Photos and Article by Ernesto Raul Aguilar Chicago, IL
June 25, 2025
The Summer Circus Tour headlined by Less Than Jake made its much-anticipated stop at the Metro in Chicago and for two sweaty chaotic nights, the historic venue became a punk rock carnival. With support from Bite Me Bambi, Fishbone, and The Suicide Machines, the stacked bill delivered a sonic barrage that was parts nostalgia, political resistance, and full-blown spectacle.
First up was Southern California’s Bite Me Bambi, who brought pop-punk energy to the Metro stage. Their tight, confident set leaned into infectious rhythms and playful hooks, getting the crowd moving early with “Too Many People” and “Girls Like You.” A surprise Offspring cover of “Want You Bad” ignited a singalong from the early crowd, but it was their original tracks like “Strippers on a Sunday” and “Gaslighter’s Anthem” that truly shined.
Their set was more than just upbeat pop-punk, it carried a message of inclusion, with shoutouts to transgender and nonbinary artists serving as a reminder that scenes are only as strong as they are welcoming. “Hot Lava” closed things out with maximum bounce, leaving behind a fired-up crowd ready for more.
Fishbone followed with grit, funk, and politically charged fire. Drawing on decades of genre-defying evolution, their set veered from ska-punk to jazz-inflected chaos and back again. Standouts like “Skankin’ to the Beat” and “Ma and Pa” energized the room, but it was newer material like “Last Call in America” and the blistering “Racist Piece of Shit” that gave the set weight.
The band’s new album, Stockholm Syndrome, their first in two decades, served as a direct commentary on America’s current socio-political unrest. The live debut of those new tracks felt immediate and raw, especially when paired with classics like “Party at Ground Zero” and “Lyin' Ass Bitch.” With horns blasting and tempo shifts flying, their set was wild, unfiltered, and brilliant. Part protest, part performance art, and entirely Fishbone.
Detroit’s The Suicide Machines wasted no time launching into a 13-song set that felt like a whirlwind. From opener “Hey” to the closer “War Profiteering is Killing Us All,” they blasted through their discography with speed and purpose, so much so that halfway through even they were surprised at how much stage time they had left. Songs like “To Play Caesar (Is to Be Stabbed to Death)” and “Never Go Quietly” doubled down on themes of resistance, while the band’s roots in hardcore punk surfaced through their aggressive rendition of Minor Threat’s “I Don’t Wanna Hear It.”
Headliners Less Than Jake turned the circus theme into a full-fledged punk pageant. Launching with “Gainesville Rock City,” the band powered through a massive 20-song setlist that pulled from nearly every era of their career. Fan favorites like “All My Best Friends Are Metalheads” and “Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts” sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Visually, their set was just as outrageous as their music. Two crew members roamed the stage with leaf blower-powered toilet paper blasters, while inflatable tube men flailed behind the band like punk rock mascots. Clown makeup and hair dotted the crowd, bringing the tour’s namesake theme to life. Mosh pits opened and collapsed. Crowd surfers rode waves of hands to the front barrier and back. Confetti mixed with sweat, and chaos reigned in the most joyous way possible.
More than just a concert, Less Than Jake’s Summer Circus Tour felt like a collective act of defiance and celebration. It brought together old-school punks, fresh-faced fans, and political radicals under one roof to dance, scream, and exist unapologetically. Every act brought its own flavor, but each carried a shared message.
In a world increasingly hostile to both art and truth, nights like these remind us of what live music is truly for, to connect, to resist, and to be free.
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