Based on their songs about Pez candy, liquor stores and overdue rent, it's no surprise that ska-punk veterans Less Than Jake are making fun and games central components of their current headlining tour.

This Wednesday (6/18) the band performed at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale, FL, marking the second date of its national headlining tour with fellow ska bands Suburban Legends [ tickets ] and Mustard Plug [ tickets ].

It's fitting that Gainesville, FL, natives Less Than Jake chose their own state as a starting point for the tour. The group members have always shown affection for their hometown, and their forthcoming album "GNV FLA" (set for release June 24) pays homage to their city in both its title and content. The album is the first original release from the band's newly established label, Sleep It Off Records.

While this tour is certainly a promotional tool for their latest recording effort, the band has stated that fans can expect to hear lots of old favorites live, rather than a drawn-out string of new, unknown songs. Based on this performance, they are staying true to that promise.

Less Than Jake opened its set with extreme high-energy, playing hits dating as far back as 1995, when the group released its first indie album, "Pezcore," including "Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts." "I Swear It's the Last Time," "Last One Out of Liberty City" and "Suburban Myth" were just a few of the evening's obvious fan favorites. When the band played "The Rest of My Life" from 2006's "In With The Out Crowd," lead man Chris Demakes announced that it was the group's most requested song; this became apparent immediately based on the audience's reaction.

The show was tight and peppy, and had the near-capacity crowd passionately singing along (even to the unreleased songs) and bouncing around like they were on pogo sticks. The song selections seemed to suit this audience of diehards just fine. Most in attendance knew every lyric to all the songs, which was impressive considering that Less Than Jake has six studio albums, and most of the audience members were probably in grade school when some of this material was released. Random storms of confetti fired off and a mild mosh pit stirred throughout the evening. This scene felt like a real party.

Between songs, the performance was filled with surprises and silliness. At one point, Demakes demanded that a security guard, who was overseeing the pit from the back of the venue, join the band onstage for a beer. "Relax, nothing is going to happen here. Come have a beer with us onstage. You're still going to get paid," said Demakes, with a cold bottled brewsky outstretched in his hand. After extensive coaxing from the band and audience, the reluctant security official took up the offer and watched the entire show from the stage.

Later, three guys and girls from the crowd were brought onstage for a Disturbed Challenge, which involved a competition to find out who could recreate nu-metal rockers Disturbed's opening line, "Oh-wha-ah-ah-ah," from the single "Down With the Sickness." The winner received free merchandise and the "Oh-wha-ah-ah-ah" sound effect became an ongoing joke with the band all night.

Demakes announced that he will be part of a comedy show airing on Comedy Central this July. He shared a joke with the crowd: "What's the difference between an anal and an oral thermometer? The taste."

The show ended with a brief encore that closed with "Plastic Cup Politics," from 2003's "Anthem." The entire venue shouted along: "It's just another night of plastic cup politics."

If Less Than Jake brought the celebration and laughs, opening act Suburban Legends were not far behind. This Los Angeles-based pop-ska outfit not only put on an impressive set musically, but their boy-band dance routines, let's-not-take-ourselves-too-seriously style also made them endearing and fun to watch. Exaggerated movements and upbeat sounds made the entire performance captivating in every sense. The group closed its set with a cover of "Under The Sea" from the Disney movie The Little Mermaid.

The only downer of the night was Mustard Plug, a ska-punk band from Michigan with a heavy Mighty Mighty Bosstones sound. Vocalist Dave Kirchgessner had a more aggressive, intense approach to performing than the other bands on this bill.

When a fight broke out in the mosh pit, Kirchgessner scolded the crowd: "This is not a hardcore show. I f---ing hate violence!" His heavy rants about the war in Iraq just seemed out of place here. "I want to paint the White House black!" he shouted to a half-hearted roar of support from the crowd.

The band performed "The Freshman," the somber single from The Verve Pipe--giving it what seemed to be an inappropriate fast-paced and uplifting ska spin. Covers can be interesting from this musical genre, but this one just seemed completely random. The band also performed Fugazi's "Waiting Room." They would have better served themselves to offer original songs.

Despite Mustard Plug's buzz-kill moments, the evening carried a general sense of carefree, adrenaline-pumping thrills and bright rousing sounds.