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Wild and crazy guys - The Weisenheimers play Juanita's on Wednesday with Conway punk rock band The Muddlestuds. The music get... + Enlarge

Karle Johnson's back is turned for only a handful of minutes when he is unceremoniously fired from Little Rock's The Weisenheimers.

With Johnson absent, guitarist Mark Wyers announces to myself and the other surprised band members that they will scrap their pop punk sound for a harder-edge, free-flowing industrial dance jazz sound. As part of the transition, Johnson, the band's lead singer, bassist and chief songwriter, has to be let go.

Wyers is only joking, one of several inter-band related jests and nothing-personal cracks among the quartet, which includes Mark's older brother Micah Wyers on guitar and Sean Causey on drums and vocals.

The Weisenheimers have gathered at a Heights Starbucks on a Monday night to discuss the band's formation, its infectious punk anthems, band influences and the upcoming release of their debut album. But the talk also spills over into what summer blockbuster movie is more anticipated [The Dark Knight vs. the new Indiana Jones], the best way to destroy a broken-thumb G.I. Joe action figure [M-80] and the improved consistency of baseball card gum.

After a string of wisecracks about historical figures and a certain band member's need for Kleenexes, the question arises: Are you guys always this much fun?

"We literally have this much fun all the time," Mark Wyers said.

"We like to abuse each other," Causey said. "It's jovial mischief."

Almost a year into their history, The Weisenheimers should be having fun. In fact, the whole intent of punk music is its freedom and fun, according to Johnson.

"[Punk music] is about the sound and having fun," he said. "It's about playing because it is fun. It's about doing what you want to do and not what you're told to do. It's fun. It's catchy. I listen to punk rock when I am in a bad mood to make me feel better."

The Weisenheimers' punk mirrors the infectious, punchy pop punk sound of the Ramones, with raging guitar riffs on tunes such as "Converse" being lightened by the group's vocal harmonies.

"Johnny Ramone is what got me to playing," Johnson said. "I remember having an acoustic guitar and learning to play ... I think it was 'Teenage Lobotomy.' Other than that [my influences are] just a lot of punk rock music."

The Weisenheimers were created after the departure of Johnson and Causey from Josh the Devil and the Sinners, with Causey being the original Sinner. Mark Wyers joined the band in the fall following a stint in Josh the Devil and the Sinners as well.

"We actually stole Mark away from Josh the Devil and the Sinners," Causey said. "They asked me to play a Halloween show, and I used it as cover to steal away Mark."

After the band's other guitarist departed in March, Micah Wyers joined the band. And three gigs into his Weisenheimers career, Micah is seemingly at ease - with both the music ("He knows the songs better than we do," Mark Wyers said.) and with the band's incessant verbal assaults.

As evidence, Micah Wyers' reply to Mark Wyers stating he is far superior to his brother on guitar is quick and decisive.

"I let him think that," Micah Wyers said.

The twin guitar assault of the brothers is actually a vital equation in The Weisenheimers' sound, as the brothers' wildly diverse influences infuse the quartet's punk rock rhythms with contrasting musical inspirations: Hee Haw, C. C. DeVille, Ace Frehley, Hank Williams Jr., Slayer and Prince.

"I guess I'm the oldest one in the band," Micah Wyers said. "I grew up with [Def Leppard's] Hysteria and Never Mind the Bollocks [Here's the Sex Pistols]. I just know they had loud guitars."

Johnson might be the one true punk in the group, as Causey counts Meat Loaf, David Bowie and Creedence Clearwater Revival among his chief influences. But the mention of Meat Loaf brings quizzical looks from other band members, forcing Causey to defend his choice.

"I love Meat Loaf," he said. "He's the best singer in the world."

With the band's one-year anniversary fast approaching, the band is finishing up its debut album, an 11 (or maybe 12) track collection of energetic, tuneful punk music. While the album was slightly delayed until Micah Wyers joined the band, the recording process has continued at Wolfman Recording Studios in Little Rock under the watchful eye of Jason Tedford.

The plan is to have the album out by the end of June (The Weisenheimers have a verbal agreement with Thick Syrup Records to release the album.), and celebrate the album's release with a weekend of record-release parties.

But until then The Weisenheimers will continue their mischievous ways, cranking out rambunctious, intoxicatingly fun punk music and cracking wise about each other all the while.

"If you can't have this much fun in a band then what are you doing in a band?" Causey said.