These are difficult days for bands crossing borders and trying to interest people in rock music. But Rocket From The Crypt have a reputation as the world's best live band to maintain, and not even war is going to get in their way.

"Everyone is kind of on edge; it's a bit surreal," says Apollo Nine -- who plays saxophone and percussion for the San Diego punk band -- from a tense New York City. "People are having a harder time enjoying themselves, which makes our job harder -- and more important."

Indeed, exposing yourself to a dose of high-energy punk rock might be just what the doctor ordered, and RFTC take their therapeutic role seriously.

"We have a little pow-wow session to get everyone up," Apollo explains. "We feel out the vibe of the club, and then focus on having a good time and go out and do it."

Simple as it sounds, that approach helps the six-piece group maintain their intensity after more than a decade -- even if the energy level of their set has a different pattern now.

"When we were young, we were not that good at playing our instruments, and probably were very drunk, so we made up for it by jumping around a lot and making more of a spectacle," says Apollo. "Now, I think it's more of a slow groove. The start is a little slower than it used to be, but by midpoint in the set you can definitely feel a build toward the end. I think it's a cool way to go -- there's more of a storyline."

Apollo says that RFTC is not a political band, even though they named their latest album, Live From Camp X-Ray (not a live album, by the way), after the U.S.'s Guantanamo Bay detention centre, and its final track, Too Many Balls, is an indictment of testosterone-driven aggression.

"That song was actually about a party," he says, "although I suppose it could be interpreted in other ways.

"Generally speaking, rock musicians aren't the most thoughtful people in the world," he adds. "Usually they're selfish and immature. We're all very sarcastic and cynical, so maybe we point the finger a bit, but we don't have any answers. We don't have a political agenda, and we're not out to make people change their minds about politics. If anything, we just want to make them think about it."

Or perhaps just provide a release for their tension. "That's what we offer more than anything," Apollo agrees. "If rock music was going to change the world, The Clash would have done it 20 years ago."

Rocket From The Crypt play Lee's Palace tomorrow night with '70s New York punk survivor Sonny Vincent and local swanky surf outfit Atomic 7 opening.