Images: Authority Zero, Guilty By Association, The People’s Whiskey, War Called Home February 1, 2014 at Backstage Bar and Billiards

My first time seeing Authority Zero was close to two years ago at the Hard Rock Pool with NOFX, and I remember leaving the show pleasantly surprised by a band with whom I was only moderately familiar. Mid-way through their most recent Las Vegas stop at Backstage Bar and Billiards (and my 3rd Authority Zero show) I realized that the punk/reggae group have become one of my favorite live bands.

Right out of the gates, frontman Jason DeVore was jumping all over the place like a madman, spending an equal amount of time in the crowd as he did on stage.  The crowd was happy to help him sing, or provide the many backing “whoas” on tracks like “No Other Place,” “Brick In The Wave” and “No Regrets.” Unfortunately a technical glitch prevented a late-show acoustic breather for the crowd, so instead the band blasted through several more songs before a quick break and then encore of “Ramblin Bog,” “Get it Right,” and finish with “Superbitch.”  Bands with rowdy live shows like this are what got me into punk rock and I eagerly await their next show.

Opening up were locals Guilty by Association, The People’s Whiskey (who were just announced as Desert Companion’s “Best Rock Band”) and War Called Home.  War Called Home and The People’s Whiskey both sounded great and won over members of the crowd that might have been previously unfamiliar with them. The bands draw from many of the same influences as the out-of-town headliner so it made them natural fits to get the crowd going early. Guilty By Association sounded as great as ever, benefiting from a fill-in appearance from their former drummer Gilbert Estrada. The hardcore punk band pounded through a set of old favorites and even debuted a new song.

-Aaron Mattern | https://www.flickr.com/photos/akmofoto/