Less Than Jake and their Summer Circus Tour came through the Riverside Municipal Auditorium to the delight of SoCal ska punk fans. With some heavy hitters opening, the lineup is a great representation of ska punk, whether it be classic bands like Fishbone and the Suicide Machines or the newer favorites like Catbite. A good time was had by all.

This was my first time at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium in the city’s downtown area. I was thoroughly impressed with it. The venue has three levels: a balcony with seats on the top floor, the dance floor and more seats on the second floor, and the bathrooms, smoking areas, and space for merch on the lower floor. It was a good-sized wood floor with an interior that looked like an old mission, complete with faux candle chandeliers.

While I know fellow DSer Jay Stone saw the East Coast version of the tour, the West Coast iteration featured Catbite in the opening slot rather than Bite Me Bambi. A bit of calliope music kicked off the Summer Circus and then Catbite came out ready to rock. Lead singer, Brittany Luna, was very much the ball of energy you’d expect her to be, and the band followed suit. Opening with “Die in Denver,” the band was able to go back and forth between playing a fast song and a slower song, but harnessing the energy enough as not to lose the crowd. If there is such a thing as energy juggling, this band has mastered it. At one point, Luna jumped into the crowd and the pit without missing a beat. If my feet had any rhythm, they’d be dancing during this set. Overall, Catbite was fun and charming and definitely on my list to see again.

Despite being a fan for about thirty years, this was my first time seeing the Suicide Machines. Destruction by Definition is hands down one of my most listened-to albums, which is why a set that was heavy in that album’s songs was appreciated. Opening with the song “Too Much” from the album, Jason Navarro and crew put on a set that was a good mix for fans, even making room for the poppier track “Permanent Holiday” from their self-titled album. There was not one moment when Jason or the crowd wasn’t moving. One dad had his kid on his shoulders throughout the set, prompting Navarro to wave at the kid and apologize for swearing. I wish there were a few more songs off of Battle Hymns, which always felt like an extension of Destruction by Definition rather than a whole new album. I loved finally getting to see one of my favorite ska-punk bands do what they do best.

I saw Fishbone for the first time last December. Between now and then, this was my third time seeing them, one of which was less than a week earlier at Warped Tour. There was definitely a contrast between these sets. The set of songs played during Warped Tour was a great way to show off the band’s catalog and give them a sample of what the band has to offer; this was a much more niche affair. I ran into a friend with his kids at this show, and one of my favorite parts of this is watching them process Fishbone for the first time: the shift in tones, the variety of genres in songs, and Angelo Moore’s theremin. There was some crossover with that Warped Tour set, but to the unfamiliar Fishbone fan, they could be left scratching their head. So tracks like “Drunk Skitzo” and “Gelato the Clown” definitely throw people off. That being said, I appreciated the hell out of it. They did eventually get to the hits, but you had to go on a journey to get to them. I mean that in the best way. This latest iteration of the band sounds sharp. It’s like rebuilding the engine of a classic car and listening to it purr. There is always so much to fit into a set from Fishbone that it’s disappointing when something gets missed, as was the case with the new crowd favorite, “Racist Piece of Shit.” This was still a strong set from a band that is unapologetically themselves. Fishbone is an experience, and if you haven’t seen a set where they are headlining, you’re missing one of the best performances you’ll ever see on stage.

As someone with a body still recovering from Warped Tour who brought a kid that doesn’t like standing for hours at a time, I reconvened to the seats in the back during Less Than Jake’s set. Less Than Jake was never a band I was into; it just didn’t click for me, but as I try to raise a kid to be less judgmental than I was, I always give bands another chance. That being said, their set was enjoyable. I kind of lumped them into a category with Bowling For Soup, another band I can’t get into. The few songs I did recognize they played well. Opening with their hometown homage, “Gainesville Rock City,” Less Than Jake took control of the crowd fast. While playing the hits, they snuck in newer songs “Walking Pipebomb” and “Brand New Day,” which both sounded good and made me reconsider my past judgments on the band. An auditorium full of people in the pit can’t be wrong, right?

This was a fantastic way to spend a Friday night. It was a bit of a drive, but well worth it. Less Than Jake’s Summer Circus succeeded in bringing the favorites of ska punk, new and old, to the masses. A solid lineup with an affordable ticket price for a great night of music. There are still some dates left on the tour. If the circus is coming to your town, don’t sleep on these tickets.