Though it’s easy to think that today’s popular bands spring out of nowhere, a little digging almost always reveals that is not the case. Such is the story behind Pharmacy, a “new” band with a long history. Performing at The Shakedown Bar on March 2, the quartet features singer Kathleen “Kit” Johnson, drummer Jayden Fullerton, bassist Ramon “Ramones” Silva and guitarist Jonny Vee, the latter also known as a member of seminal local punk band Social Spit. Pharmacy has been drawing enthusiastic crowds for just over a year, however, its roots go back to the early 1990s, though there were several breaks in the ensuing years. The band originally known as Pharmacy became known as Kitten’s Pharmacy in 1995, going on to release an album, “Recommended by Doctors,” before splitting in 1999. Several short-lived reunions followed, but it’s the latest version of the band that seems to have caught the public’s ear. The band’s sound is a basic driving mix of rock and punk influences, primarily focused on originals though it has been known to cover tunes like “Don’t Push Me Around” by San Diego’s own punk legends, The Zeros. Today, frontwoman Johnson is known as a vocal powerhouse with a commanding stage presence, so it’s hard to believe that she actually came into the music world late in the game. “Considering I had a lot of friends in bands, it’s kind of surprising that I didn’t start sooner, but I didn’t think I could sing,” she said. Johnson started out playing a few parties with friends and sitting in at the Princess Pub downtown. “I’m surprised it’s gone this far,” Johnson said. “I’ve always had music in me and it was always fun to do. When I took a hiatus from music prior to this band forming, I really missed it.” Though previous versions of Pharmacy have had various levels of success, the current version seems to have made the biggest impact, with the band now on a regular tour circuit that includes Los Angeles and Las Vegas. “Since we changed the music, it seems that more people are responding,” Johnson said. “That’s why we’re trying to get out and play beyond San Diego, though we love local shows.” One of the biggest changes for the band is that Pharmacy now has greater songwriting input from Johnson herself. “I never really wrote many songs in the previous bands, maybe one each,” she said. “But I have five or six now, with myself and Jayden, the band’s main songwriters with Jonny also contributing some great songs. Even Ramon is starting to contribute now.” Though her sound has shifted from pop rock to a harder sound, akin to the New York Dolls, she cites The Beatles as her biggest influence. “I kind of like to think our new sound is somewhere between the Beatles and Alice in Chains,” Johnson said. The band has recorded an EP, with a new disc in the wings once the band is done promoting the current tunes. But it’s live where the band really connects with an audience. “It’s fun to get up there and perform,” she said. “I just really enjoy it it gives me a total rush. I just like interacting with people to see if they like our music. The last couple of shows we did people really got into it. They were dancing and getting all crazy. I never saw that before in the other bands. It’s like, wow, we really do have something good going on. It’s really motivating and makes me want to be better.” • Pharmacy performs at 10 p.m. on Friday, March 2 at the Shakedown Bar, located 3048 Midway Drive. No cover. 21 and up. www.theshakedownsd.com.