LESS THAN JON: They've slogged it on the neo-punk circuit for eight years, dallied unsuccessfully with a major label and earned fans' resepect with an "anti-pop star" outlook.

Now, Less Than Jake are opening for Bon Jovi.

The unlikely pairing finds the Gainesville, Fla., ska-punk pranksters at Air Canada Centre Monday, warming up the crowd for the '80s rock megastars.

"It's a funny story, actually," JR says of his band's connection to Bon Jovi, the man.

"Our saxophone player, Buddy, grew up next door to Jon in New Jersey. At Thanksgiving last year, they were chatting over dinner -- their families always have Thanksgiving together -- Jon asked Buddy if we'd tour. It's a good thing we had an in like that.

"And," he adds, deadpan still intact, "if that was a true story, it would be great."

Actually, LTJ and Bon Jovi share the same booking agent, and landing the opening spot was as simple as submitting their name and waiting for a few other bands to turn the spot down first.

"When it came to us, we were like, 'F--- yeah!'," says JR. "I remember strolling around the arena on one of the first nights and thinking: 'Somebody at some other band's label is getting fired for blowing this one. Why are we on this tour?' "

With the success of their new album for U.S. indie label Fat Wreck Chords, Borders & Boundaries, and their own recent tours of the U.S., Europe, and Japan, Less Than Jake won the elder group's respect.

Then again, Bon Jovi, the band, have surfaced for the first time in five years with a disc, Crush.

Is Less Than Jake meant to inject some street-cred?

"I don't think so," says JR. "They have that already, at least to the people who are paying $50, $60, $70 to see them."

Not that Less Than Jake are getting any ideas about pursuing the arena circut for themselves.

Tomorrow night they headline their own all-ages show at London, Ont., crawl space The Embassy, along with Jersey and Dry Heave.

Says JR: "When we do our own shows, we can kind of relax. It helps the morale. I'm not speaking for the rest of the band, but I'd be very happy for the rest of my life playing 1,500- to 2,000-capacity rooms every night."