H.B. punk band Karate in the Garage has a surprising punch on stage

Tahlena Chikami walks up to the microphone on the small stage of the Doll Hut nightclub in Anaheim.

She stands just 5 feet 4. Atop her short, black, curled hair is a red ribbon, and her lips are painted a bright red, making her look almost like a real-life Snow White.

Then she opens her mouth, and what comes out dispells any notion that she is the embodiment of a cute, wholesome Disney character.

“We are Karate in the Garage from Huntington Beach, and this song is about partying and drinking,” commands Chikami before taking a sip of her beer and letting out a rip-roaring scream, accompanied by the sounds of fast guitars and drumming.

That surprise punch is part of the band’s appeal, Chikami said, adding that many of its lyrics deal with drinking and casual sex.

“It’s kind of shocking but that’s kind of the point,” she said. “All the guys in the punk scene sing about that stuff, but for some reason when a girl does, it shocks people. I want to be able to sing about all the things the guys sing about, you know? It’s fun to watch everyone’s faces.”

Karate in the Garage was founded in 2012 by Chikami and drummer Brian Chapman. After various changes in band members over the years, guitarist Kevin Chapman, brother of Brian, and bassist Sam Hall now round out the four-person lineup.

The band grew up in the 1990s punk scene and often plays cover songs from The Offspring, RX Bandits and Bad Religion, as well as original creations.

“Everybody has really diverse influences in our band,” Chikami said. “When we go on tour, the mix is all over the place, but I think we all come together in the style of punk, and that’s where we can bring different sounds from all over and fit it in. We’ve included jazz influences and other sounds, but it’s worked well.”

The ska/punk outfit has a do-it-yourself mentality, which is something that drummer Brian Chapman said is almost essential nowadays in the music scene.

He said the group has booked all its own tours — they’ve traveled the West Coast and plan to take their music to the East Coast and Europe — and produced its two EPs on its own, including the latest, “These are Things Everyone Should Think About,” which was released in August.

“The music industry is so broken nowadays,” he said. “It’s not just about getting a record deal anymore. Doing it yourself ends up being better. It’s cheaper, you have fewer people telling you what to do and you get to make your own decisions. We’re going through a change in the music industry of how we’re getting our music and how people are getting paid.”

Chikami added that the band has an advantage in the diverse and welcoming Orange County ska and punk music scene.

“We’re very lucky with the music scene we have in Orange County,” she said. “We’ve gone on tour to places where there was only one ska band in 60 miles. I feel really blessed that we have so many cool people in O.C. who are willing to support. I get excited to go to a show here because I know we’re all going to have a good time and it’s just a really safe environment.”

The O.C. music scene also has been home to one of Chikami’s biggest influences, Gwen Stefani, of the platinum-selling Anaheim band No Doubt.

Chikami, who performs a cover of No Doubt’s “Sunday Morning” with Karate in the Garage, said she has been compared to Stefani.

“There was a period of time when we started the band that everyone would say I was like Gwen Stefani, but I would deny it, which is funny because that’s a really high compliment for someone to say,” said Chikami, who listened to No Doubt’s “Tragic Kingdom” album while she was in elementary school.

“I have come to realize that I look up to her and admire her, so she’s definitely an influence. I used to say I had really obscure influences, but let’s just call it what it is. It’s Gwen Stefani.”

Chikami, who also works as a film actress — she has had minor roles on “Parenthood” and “Glee” — said performing has always been her passion. She loves the adrenaline rush she gets on stage, especially as a woman representing the punk scene.

“Because there aren’t a lot of us female singers in the punk world nowadays, we’re like this cool little club,” she said. “I always say that God only gave me one gift, and that was charisma. I run with that. What I love about live music is we’re creating an experience for everybody. I like to get up there and make sure everyone’s having a good time and dancing.”