MUSIC MURPHY’S LAW : Suds ‘n’ Sounds : The band, known for its ‘loud, grungy’ style, is promoting a new album, which contains the tune ‘Beer Bath.’ So beware.

All things stylish will be out of style at the Murphy’s Law show tonight. Don’t borrow your parents’ clothes unless you want to bring them home smelling like a brewery. Dress accordingly or bring a raincoat.

The smell of beer leaves few options when it comes to those embarrassing 1 a.m. conversations with the Highway Patrol. Murphy’s Law has three cases of beer for every show--it’s in their contract. They drink one; they throw two on the audience.

Since the Anaconda Theater doesn’t sell beer, this surrogate party experience/indoor beer burst may be as close as you get to getting down. Hey, it’s the ‘90s: Can’t have sex, can’t drink, can’t get a job, can’t afford a house, can only go to college to learn how to be poor.

Why? Murphy’s Law. If anything can go wrong, it will.

“That’s just what our band is, and our van is in the shop,” said Jimmy Drescher, formerly Jimmy Gestapo, then Jimmy Spliff, but still the brain and the voice behind Murphy’s Law, the band.

A jinx of a name for a band perhaps, but Jimmy probably had a tougher time making friends when he was called Gestapo and Spliff.

“I’m just Jimmy, the dude from Queens,” said Jimmy, the dude from Queens. “At first I just wanted a shocking name like Johnny Rotten or Sid Vicious. People in Europe thought we were Nazis or something when we are actually anti-racist. We’re just a freedom rock band.”

Murphy’s Law was formed at a party a decade ago. And despite the veracity of Simon’s Law, which states that everything put together falls apart sooner or later, the party is still going strong.

“Babes and beer are just a few of the perks,” said Jimmy, the beer drinker from Queens. “I get to drink beer for free and travel around and meet a lot of kids.”

A Murphy’s Law performance-- where they inject a serious dose of energy into thrash, punk, speed metal and ska, amid intermittent showers--is sort of a musical extrapolation of Fudd’s First Law of Opposition, which states, “If you push something hard enough, it’ll fall over.”

“A day in the life of Murphy’s Law goes like this,” Jimmy said. “Everyone is late, doing laundry. It’s always a hurry-up-and-wait type thing. Then we meet with the opening bands and make sure the owners are treating them OK. Then we meet a bunch of local kids and get them in for free. Then we drink some beer and, when the show starts, we just explode.”

After the explosion on stage, it becomes one of those situations off stage that tends to confuse law enforcement types. Is it a dance or a riot? Perhaps it’s just Paul’s Law, which states: You can’t fall off the floor.

“Everybody just jumps around and screams and vents their emotions. We have a set beginning and a set ending; in between, whatever happens happens. We’re sort of like a public service. The kids appreciate it; we’re sort of like a breath of fresh air. Just leave your politics outside and listen to some loud, grungy music. Our music is about beer, food and sex--life, that’s it.”

Murphy’s Law is touring to promote their third album, “The Best of Times.” On it are tunes such as “Beer Bath,” “Freaktown” and “Santa’s Got a Brand New Bag.” They also seriously ravage “Ebony & Ivory,” which is to say it’s better because it couldn’t be worse.

They’ve got a new record label that loves them (Relativity) and they are planning a trip to beer mecca, Milwaukee. Life is good.

Just don’t forget that raincoat.

* WHERE AND WHEN

Murphy’s Law at the Anaconda Theater, 935 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista, tonight at 8. Tickets $9. For information, call 685-3112.