Vegas punk band making gains

Their first recording session was done in a kitchen.

Nine years and six drummers later, Vegas punks Guilty By Association no longer lay down their tunes among housewares, but they're still a bunch of blue collar dudes with day jobs, not daydreams.

Despite the glittery veneer of many of this city's entertainment offerings, most of the Vegas bands worth mentioning are of a decidedly working class bent, Guilty By Association among them. And they certainly don't put on any airs when it comes to divining the keys to their longevity.

"We hate each other," guitarist Tom Jones says chuckling over a beer at The Bunkhouse on a recent Wednesday night.

"It is a love/hate thing," singer Mike Janoff adds through a knowing grin. "It's almost like a dysfunctional family."

But that family has grown increasingly tight over nearly a decade together, and it's easy to hear as much on the band's latest disc, "American Decay," which they're holding a release party for Saturday at The Bunkhouse.

A significant step forward for the group, the disc is a fast, fat-free blast of melodic punk rock heart attacks that race by on high-velocity hooks.

The tunes are equally socially aware and sardonic, cheeky ("Bingo Billy," an ode to the drunken antics of their drummer, Billy Nunno) and caustic (the seething "Straight to Hell").

Recorded in Orange, Calif., with former Death By Stereo bassist Paul Miner, who has worked with such notables as New Found Glory, Atreyu, Thrice and Throwdown, the disc is directly reflective of a change of scenery for the band.

"It was nice getting out of Vegas with no distractions," Janoff says. "We went down there for six days straight, worked 10 hours a day, didn't party. We were just all business. We had never really done that on any of our recordings."

The band, rounded out by guitarist Bob Bloss, is releasing the album on their own label, Public Nuisance Records, preferring to keep everything in house.

"It has to do with us wanting to stay in control of the direction that we're going," says bassist Craig Swanson. "A lot of bands sign with labels and they're influenced in all kinds of ways because of it. This way, we can do whatever we want at all times. It keeps us true to where we came from."

And where GOA comes from, success is defined by survival. In this sense, the very existence of "American Decay" already makes it a hit.

"We're OK with working jobs," Swanson says. "One day, if (the band) pays us, then that's great. But until then, we'll stick with where we are."

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