IN THE PIPELINE:

“The store was packed. We played a good show. The next thing you know I’m getting a message saying, ‘You’re going to be in Hot Topic. You’re the perfect fit, we’re excited, and we hope you are too.’”

Singer/songwriter Franki Doll is recounting what may turn out to be a life-changing moment; a recent performance that sealed a particularly sweet deal for her band, Huntington Beach-based Franki Doll and the Broken Toys.

Hot Topic, the popular mall-based, rock ‘n’ roll clothing-and-accessories retail chain has a unique history of showcasing in-store band competitions in search of breakthrough acts. Once the organizers pick a winner, the chosen band’s CDs are featured in store, the band tours throughout the company’s 688 national locations — and exposure can go through the roof.

That’s why the call to Franki meant so much. “We played there as a lot of bands do, and I guess we stood out,” she says. “We brought people in. Owl City, Paramore — some good bands have come out of this, and so we were blown away. We have 60,000 fans on MySpace, so this is a good time and a good way for our first official CD to get introduced.”

Franki and the band are working on that now, and in the meantime, the strikingly pretty, lithe lead singer is taking a deep, figurative pause in life so the meaning of the moment is not lost on her. Sitting over coffee last week (early morning after a triumphant gig the night before at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano), she is a riddle inside a paradox wrapped up in a mystery. After all, Franki Doll is not your average rock ‘n’ roll front person. Sure, she may look the part, with her pink-streaked, jet black hair and tattoos; one part Patti Smith, one part Joan Jett and one part Pat Benatar. She may act the part, too, because, after all, she and the Broken Toys were voted Best Live Band and Best Live Punk Band at a recent OC Music Awards show (and Franki was named “Most Memorable Front Person”).

But Franki goes far beyond any sort of rock ‘n’ roll stereotyping. You see, Franki, in addition to fronting the Broken Toys, also has three teenaged children (ages 15, 17 and 19). And for all of her rock ‘n’ roll flash, power and beauty, when she describes her kids, this woman’s heart and soul comes through like nothing else. “I am just so proud of them,” she says. “They’re amazing kids, and I think they’re excited with what’s happening now with my music.”

Looking at her, it doesn’t seem possible. You might guess Franki is in her 20s. But then again, Franki doesn’t get hung up on things should “look.” “I know I don’t look like a PTA mom when I go to school functions,” she says. “But if people just closed their eyes before judging me, I think they’d find I’m just another mom who cares for her kids. This is just who I am. I’ve never smoked, drank or done drugs. People read so much into appearances. But this is just who I am.

Franki’s upbringing presented many challenges. A broken household, winding up in a foster home, and many other cold, cruel moments for a little girl who loved to sing seem to have made her stronger, to give her purpose. Today, she goes and speaks to kids on the edge. She has a plan to create incentives for her fan base to do good, meaningful things in the world. And most of all, she looks to move people through her music.

Her current band (Jenson Avery, drums, Chris Khaos, guitar; Alex Smith, guitar; and Andy Montana, bass) has been together five years. Coming out of the Huntington Beach scene that was crystallized by the band Avenged Sevenfold (several of whom are friends of Franki’s), the group seems poised and ready for the next level.

Franki (whose eclectic musical tastes run the gamut from the Sex Pistols to Styx to James Taylor) is ready for sure. And for the right reasons.

“Life presented me with all sorts of challenges,” she says in her schoolgirl voice. But despite her youthful tone, the words flow with a wise, insightful knowing. “My mom got back in touch with me recently. That was hard, a little scary, but important to me. I try to make sense of everything in my life right now and it will definitely come through the music, like it always does,”

She talks about a recent performance in Hot Topic. “We were playing our song ‘Suffocated Light.’ It’s about people trying to dim other people, but then standing up to those people and being responsible for who you are. We stopped playing the music and just let the people sing the words: ‘Stand on your own and own what you’ve become.’ It was awesome. They sang the lyric over and over, making it their own song. It got so emotional some people were crying.”

No challenges yet in life has been able to quell the passion and fire that Franki Doll feels in her music. And that’s a good thing. When you or your kids see the new CD in Hot Topic, I hope you check it out. I have no doubt it will rock. But I’m also sure it will have soul, purpose and meaning. Because that’s what Franki Doll is all about.

You can listen to the band at www.myspace.com/frankidoll.

Hope to see you at the Taste of Huntington Beach this Sunday. I’ll be there signing books and helping to judge the entries. The vent, now in its 10th year, supports the Huntington Beach Children’s Library and many local restaurants. One all-inclusive ticket covers everything. There will be great music along with food, beer and wine, and for more information, call (714) 375-5023.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 17 books, including the new “Huntington Beach Then & Now.” You can write him at chris@chrisepting.com .