It would be going too far to say that Rancid was the band responsible for punk's mid-'90s breakthrough to the mainstream ... but not a whole lot too far. Hot on the heels of Green Day's Dookie, '95's ... And Out Come The Wolves piled all of classic punk's trademarks — the look, the political outrage, the interest in ethnic music styles, the energy — on top of incredibly catchy, anthemic songs. "Ruby Soho" instantly became the most effective gateway to The Clash since classic rock radio started spinning "Rock The Casbah."
It's been three years since the last Rancid album, but the group still has something like 150 tunes in its catalog, so expect a fresh set played to a sweaty, adoring, packed house. Throw in Richmond, Va.'s always killer blue-collar-poet punks Avail, a supporting set by the guys in entertaining hometown ska-punk combo RudeSquad, and the fact that Rancid hasn't been here for a headlining set in at least a couple of years, and you've got a gig with the potential to become something that local fans talk about for years to come.
Rancid w/Avail/RudeSquad, 7 p.m. Tues., July 18 @ Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg; $18.
