San Francisco's Teenage Harlets are neither teen-agers nor harlets, but they rock like teen-age harlets, whatever a harlet is.  Since 1999, their classic, snot-nosed, garage punk 'n' roll has exemplified their sense of civic duty by administering a shot in the arm and a swift kick in the springs to Bobble Tiki's working-class doldrums.
Although every punk band under the sun would claim the same victory, it's the Teenage Harlet's enlivening balance of classic punk; tongue-in-cheek, rather than menacing, posture; and playful surf band-like tales of girls, drunken nights and heartache that set them apart. Not ones to mistake garage credibility with lack of talent, their songs are sincere and well-crafted. And the go-for-broke energy level of their live show quite simply puts many a punk band - local or otherwise - to shame. In July they released Up The Fixx, their eighth CD, and will showcase it tonight at Maggie O'Toole's with Flexx Bronco, and Sept. 13 with The Phenomenauts and River City Rebels at Hell's Kitchen's all-ages crowd. Aug. 15, 9 p.m., Maggie O’Toole’s, 6006 100th St. S.W., Lakewood, (253) 584-3276. â€" Bobble Tiki