A passing grade for punk

Paul Saitowitz

This is punk rock of yesteryear. Seething rudimentary three-chord

chugga, chugga, backed by the pounding yet monotonous kick-snare,

kick-snare beat of every punk band from Sham 69 to Blink 182. Yet there

is something blissfully memorable about F-Minus, a band from right here

in Huntington Beach.

The interplay of vocalist/guitarist Brad Logan and vocalist/guitarist

Erika Daking recall memories of X on a Red Bull or two. The band is

rounded out by drummer Adam Zuckert.

With lyrics about overcoming the sanctimonious force of “The Man,” to

go along with a look reminiscent of the Oi days of ‘77, F-Minus is a

prime example that following the rules of punk 101 and a healthy dose of

perseverance can be the keys to success.

The band formed a little more than six years ago playing shows with

all kinds of bands in all in kinds of genres.

“When we first started we really had no idea how to play our

instruments and we were taunted by a lot of crowds,” Logan laments.

Playing metal, ska and punk shows -- no matter what the response --

got the band’s name out there and eventually into the hands of Rancid

front-man Tim Armstrong.

At the time Armstrong was forming Hellcat Records, a subsidiary of

punk rock powerhouse Epitaph Records.

“We did a split with our friends in Leftover Crack, and that actually

was the first release Hellcat ever put out,” Daking said.

Having the likes of Rancid on your side gives an instant amount of

credibility to a young fledgling band. Armstrong produced the group’s

self-titled debut album -- which features 20 songs in just about 17

minutes -- and they just opened three dates on the Rancid/NOFX tour.

“It was amazing to work with a guy like Tim that has written so many

great songs,” Logan said.

Having the Hellcat backing has also helped the group tour Europe three

times and play with the likes of hard-core heros AFI and Hot Water Music.

Last year the band released its second full-length album for Hellcat,

titled “Suburban Blight.” Coming from the suburbs of Orange County -- and

still living here -- they seem to be fully entrenched in what they are

singing about.

“We write about stuff that we see and stuff that we have a problem

with,” Logan said.

Self-producing the album also gave them a chance to grow as a band and

crawl out from the shadow of Rancid.

“Things are a little different on this record because we all wrote on

it,” Logan said.

Playing in the infamous Orange County scene has lead the group across

the path of a thing or two they might have a problem with.

“It depends where you play, we used to have a lot of skinheads at

shows here in Orange County, but things have improved,” Logan said. “We

just did a tour of the South and things are still pretty bad over there.”

While members still maintain day jobs, the hours spent working outside

of the band seem to be dwindling.

“We honestly never thought it would turn out like this,” Logan said.

“It just seems like we keep getting offers to go on great tours and these

are opportunities that we can’t pass up.”

Last year F-Minus spent six months on the road covering both the

United States and Europe.

After this tour ends it’s writing time and then back to the studio for

another album.

“This is great and I feel so lucky that we have been able to do this,”

Logan said.

* PAUL SAITOWITZ is a news editor for Times Community News. He can be

reached at (949) 574-4295 or by e-mail at paul.saitowitz@latimes.com.