San Francisco Bay area punk revivalists Rancid took their cue from The Clash and The Specials, augmenting rock rhythms with a ska bounce — and never forgetting the hook. Singer/guitarist (and owner of Hellcat Records) Tim Armstrong's lyrics alternate from lefty politics to more personal and even playful numbers about a girl's charms and such. During the '90s punk revival heyday, Rancid had radio hits with titles like "Time Bomb," "Ruby Soho" and "Salvation." The quartet went on hiatus following its 2003 album, Indestructible, which produced the hit title track, and then re-formed in 2006. Rancid has been touring fairly regularly during the past two years, but there's no official word yet on a new studio album.
Rancid w/Whole Wheat Bread/The Scurvy, 6:30 p.m. (doors), Wed., June 18, Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, $19.99 (advance), $22 (day of show).
This article appears in Jun 11-17, 2008.