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Life after college often forces aspiring rock ‘n’ rollers to give up their dream of the stage for the practicality of a 9 to 5 job. But UCLA alum Dana Ehrlich hadn’t even realized her musical inclinations until her late twenties, and now at 32 fronts a New York based punk rock band.

“It’s never too late,” Ehrlich said, whose band is performing tonight and Friday in Los Angeles. “I woke up at 27 and was like, ‘oh, I was meant to be a punk rocker. Okay, I’m just going to go do that now.”

Ehrlich studied theater at UCLA and after graduating formed an experimental theater group which took up residency in Vermont. But she soon tired of the small town and her preschool teacher day job, so she hightailed it to the Big Apple like so many others in hopes of finding a fresh start.

Immediately Ehrlich found herself surrounded by people in bands, and she found no reason not to take part. After hooking up with guitarist Byrd, bassist Max Bixby, and drummer Ben Hoyumpa, Ehrlich had a band on her hands and they quickly became Stupid.

It was what they named themselves, anyway.

Of course, Ehrlich isn’t content to be the average female rocker. Instead of swinging around a guitar on stage, she pumps melodies out from an accordion, forcing the audience to accept that the funny little instrument is just as capable of noise as anything else.

But all this happens in the after hours. A fan might not recognize her on a weekday before 5 p.m., when she works as a music supervisor for Spike TV network. Her band has scored the independent film “Devils are Dreaming” and even has a number on the Jimmy Neutron soundtrack. But how can punk rock be so grown-up and responsible?

“I think that punk rock means doing what you want when you want,” Ehrlich said. “And just taking life by the balls and squeezing them.”

And Ehrlich is certainly squeezing. In a music scene largely dominated by males, she has learned to hold her own.

“I get called ‘sweetie’ or ‘hon’ and people think I can’t lift things, and it’s like come on people, please,” she said.

Of course punk rock toughness is an acquired trait. This brash frontwoman has learned that with a mouth and a microphone she has a lot of power. Cat call her when she’s up on stage, and she’ll give a verbal slam right back. But Ehrlich wasn’t always so intimidating, at least not in private the night before her show.

“I was on my kitchen floor crying and I had thrown up beforehand because I was so scared,” Ehrlich said. “I was like ‘What am I doing?’ ”

She’s come a long way since. Stupid performs in New York regularly and Ehrlich now claims to love the spontaneity and chaos that comes with playing in a band. This past week they made their first L.A. appearance, and will wrap up their West Coast debut with a performance tomorrow night at Whiskey A Go-Go. It’s a little unexpected from someone who once taught preschool and had to keep a clean mouth on the job.

“If there’s nothing else I’ve learned in life it’s that opportunity will never knock,” Ehrlich said.

Stupid performs tonight at 9 p.m. at The Garage and Friday at 8 p.m. at Whiskey A Go-Go. Go to http://www.stupidband.com/gigs/index.html for more information.