Better than nothing

The original Know Nothing Party was a group of political extremists from the 1850s. The No Nothing Party of today is a five-piece punk band from Fernley. They’re a group of mostly brothers and cousins out for fun and to play their music.

“We play classic punk music,” says bass player Jose Reeder. “We’re not trying to reinvent the sound. We’re just trying to carry the torch and write good songs.” Those songs are in the spirit of major influences like the Clash, Green Day, Operation Ivy, Rancid and NOFX.

The No Nothing Party calls their music party-punk music, but their songs have a serious edge. Take, for example, “Mic Junky": “Listen up/ you wanna change the world/ start a movement/ go down in history a hero.”

The No Nothing Party was originally called the Cahoonies, one of only five or six names they previously sported. “Cahonie” jokes began to get old, and the band needed a new name. So lead vocalist Brodie Reeder asked Paddy Landes of Stale Ale (a band NNP still plays with at the Jazz Club) what they should call themselves. Landes said, “The ‘Know Nothing Party’ would be cool, but spell it like ‘N-O’ Nothing Party.”

The No Nothings played many of their early shows at the community center in Fernley, where they still enjoy playing. Drummer Adam Schwib, who goes by “Schwib” says, “We still get a lot of support in Fernley. People really come out there for us.”

The group moved to Reno to go to the University of Nevada, Reno and began to play around town in places like Club Underground and the Zephyr. Then, Brandon Reeder joined the group, playing guitar alongside original band member Tim Reeder.

Before recording their first album, Who’s the Criminal, the No Nothings toured across the country during the summer of 2004. They played at the famous punk landmark CBGBs in New York and Gilman Street in Berkeley.

Back home, they became fast friends with a punk/ska/rockabilly band from Leeds, England, called The Dead Pets, who were in Reno on tour. After a show, Dead Pets singer Sweeny Todd gave Brandon a tattoo of a skull and crossbones and the letters TDP and NNP above and below. It was a way to make a contract that they’d tour together again once either band hit the big time.

Who’s the Criminal, which you can find at Tower Records, was produced at the Pus Cavern Studios in Sacramento by Joe Johnson, who’s recorded many Sacramento bands, including Cake, and is well-known for analog recordings. The album has a crisp, tight sound that stays true to their live sound at the Jazz Club. Schwib says, “The Jazz Club is like our home away from home.” NNP plays there nearly every Thursday night along with two or three other local bands. Brodie says, “The Jazz Club is like a house party, and we moved our party scene to that venue.” Jose says, “It’s like, show up when you want to, and have a good time.”

The NNP will record a four-song EP at Pus Cavern, playing music they feel is their best yet. After the CD, they plan to tour in California and get back on the road as soon as possible.

“We want to have fun, play music and be a punk band for as long as we can,” says Jose.