The Day After… puts different spin on influences

For most of this decade, they've been among Vegas' consistently rising acts with their breathy, bipolar alt-rock. Currently, The Day After... are readying their latest -- and best -- release, "Black Heart Symphony," which should propel them further still. Here's what they have to say about their new record and more.

What does The Day After... sound like?

"That's the $100 million question. I think we've done a pretty good job over the years of putting different spins on all of our influences. So for instance, instead of sounding exactly like the bands we grew up listening to, we take the idea of what they did and use it to write. A lot of bands are cover bands of the bands they like because they take the 'sound' of those bands and just repeat it. We're more influenced by the feel of a band and the idea of them than by what they sound like. So with that said, we don't know what we sound like. No one has been able to tell us in nine years."

You've got a new album coming out soon, "Black Heart Symphony," your fifth disc overall. How have things evolved this go-around?

"Looking back on 'Do You Feel Better Now?' (2002) 'til now, we're a completely different band. But we've managed to keep the overall sense of being us. A lot of that has to do with the evolution from CD to CD and the lineup changes. Different guys have brought different sounds to the band and that's why an album like 'Counting All The Upsets' (2005) doesn't sound anything like 'A Different Way To Get By' (2006). That last record was really rushed due to being newly signed to a record label. Taking into account that we had just lost our longtime drummer and were frantically searching for a replacement, we were also in the middle of negotiating a record deal. A few of those songs were written two, three weeks before we went into the studio to record. This time around, we've had Daniel (Kloza) in the band for a little over two years and started writing this record shortly after he joined the band. We've toured across the country and since then have really been able to develop these songs in front of new audiences and get comfortable with them. Basically, this album is us remembering how to be us."

The Day After... has played over 500 shows. How skilled are you at this point in the fine art of pushing one another's buttons?

"Oh my, you can't help it because this is your second family, it's par for the course. We all mess with each other and know what pushes each other's buttons (i.e. 25 repetitions of 'Lovely Day' by Bill Withers sung for our drummer's enjoyment is not OK). It's pretty funny at times because we should see it coming but we don't. It's almost scary how well we know each other, but it's awesome at the same time."

Your CD release show is also the day of bassist KC Wells' birthday. How drunk do you plan on getting the guy?

"Oh, he knows what he is in for and then some! We hurt the ones we love, right? We are all ready to celebrate, it's been a long time coming for his birthday and especially the CD. It's going to be too much fun, come celebrate with us!"

See The Day After... at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Beauty Bar, 517 Fremont St. Tickets are $10; call 598-1965.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin @reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.