Debates over the authenticity of New York punk band the Casualties are pretty hard to justify when they so clearly look and sound the part. Any criticism is likely spawned by the band members’ own reported opinion that the “Golden Age” of punk had reached its prime by 1985, and that they are one of the only bands around that retains the values of early punk rock. While assertions like these might make it hard for the band to explain headlining Warped Tour in 2004, questioning the music itself seems a moot point. With a series of high energy recordings and a fiercely passionate live stage presence, the Casualties are inarguably the real deal. As guitarist Jake Kolatis put it, “We look it, we live it, we love it.” The Casualties play the Mohawk Place on Friday (Dec. 7), 8pm.