Punkers vs. the establishment (what a shock)

Maybe this is where the Dixie Chicks should play the next time they want to knock the president.

The punk-rock show that hits the Southland on Tuesday makes no apologies. “Rock Against Bush” is the title of the tour, and its aim is to transform its young fans into young voters who will help unseat the current administration.

“The goal is to register people to vote but also explain to our fans how the Bush administration negatively affects their lives,” says Mike Burkett, founder of Punkvoter.com, the organization behind “Rock Against Bush.”

“We feel the only way to get kids to vote is to get them angry,” adds Burkett, who’s better known as Fat Mike, the bassist for tour headliner NOFX.

Alkaline Trio and Authority Zero will also play, and Jello Biafra will bring his funny and fiery spoken-word performance to the show.

“My goal is to inspire people to become lifetime, smart, progressive voters,” says Biafra, who fronted the scathingly satirical punk band the Dead Kennedys starting in the late 1970s.

From that long perspective, he sees “Rock Against Bush” as an overdue return to the music’s activist roots.

“Punk is such a commercial commodity now, anything to reignite the rebellious side of the music is fine by me.... I’d even go on tour with Blink-182 or Good Charlotte if it would help get rid of George Bush. I’d even go on tour with Cheney if it would get rid of George Bush.”

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“Rock Against Bush,” Lot 30, UC Riverside, Tuesday, 6 p.m. $15. (909) 787-2772. Bren Events Center, UC Irvine, April 14, 7 p.m. $15 in advance, $18 at door. (949) 824-5000.