 Twenty some minutes after the Butchers packed things is a chant of "Knife" brought the headliners out on stage. Sauntering out of the darkness, the three ladies that comprise Shonen Knife picked up their instruments and began playing "Konnichiwa" from 1998's Happy Hour. Clothed in matching dresses, guitarist Naoko Yamano and bassist Atsuko Yamano began head banging in unison as they played the poppy number. With the audience dancing along Naoko waved her guitar over the heads of those gathered up front while Atsuko flashed metal horns to the near capacity crowd.  |
 After pausing to say hello the girls from Osaka played "Ride the Rocket". Bopping around on stage with huge smiles on their faces you could tell that trio was happy to be back in Tokyo. As the song was finishing, someone from the crowd screamed "Rock Star", not missing a beat the drummer hit her sticks together twice and the band broke into it. The mix of an extremely appreciative audience, three girls who wear clearly have a fantastic time, and a good selection from two decades worth of pop and punk gems made for a really fun show.  |
 The new material showcased from the recently released Candy Rock fits in nicely with the rest of the group's extensive catalogue. The album was recorded without synthesizers or computers giving it a much harder edge. This was evident on tracks such as "Mass Communication Breakdown" and "Wonderland". Both songs were much faster than most Shonen Knife material and have much less of a bubblegum pop feel to them. These more rock oriented tracks got the audience jumping and even caused a few crowd surfers to go erupt from the crowd.  |
 Being in a rather chatty mood, the gals interacted with the audience at every given situation. Amidst their humorous banter it was revealed that they will be embarking on a North American tour sometime in October. The last time they toured the continent was five years ago so you can expect the anticipation level to be quite high this time around. If their recent live dates and album are any indication, the girls will have little problem ensuring that everyone leaves happy.  |
| Tonight's great performance showed why Shonen Knife remain one of the best rock bands in Japan and why they have gained so much respect from both their foreign and domestic peers over the years. Without a doubt, their contagious and extremely fun mix of pop, punk, and rock will continue to remain relevant and vital to the Japanese rock scene for years to come. |
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The official site of bloodthirsty butchers http://www.riverrun.co.jp/bloodthirsty_butchers/ Keihan Girls http://www.abok.jp/kg/ Shonen Knife http://www.shonenknife.net/ |
check the albums? |
 2004 CD review : "Christmas" : Old Man Gloom (28th Dec)Music Soothes the Savage Beast
: eastern youth (20th Dec @ Shibuya Club Quattro)And to all A Good Night : Shonen Knife (19th Dec @ Daikanyama Unit)Exciting Music for Exciting People : illreme (6th Dec @ Shibuya Club Quattro)It's In Their Hands Now : Franz Ferdinand (29th Nov @ Shibuya AX)Lights, Camera, Action : Brahman (15th Nov @ Ebisu Liquidroom)Mostly Business : The Stills (8th Nov @ Ebisu Liquidroom)Scare The Rock Right Outta Ya : Halloween Ball 2004 feat . The 5,6,7,8's, Gasoline, The Woggles (30th Oct @ Shiomkitazawa Shelter)Three More, Two More, and Take it to the Left : Hawaiian6/ Idol Punch (11th Oct @ Shinjuku Loft)Busting Eardrums : Mogwai (5th Oct @ Ebisu Liquidroom AX )Medical Breakthrough : The Most Notorious Vol. 18 feat. Melt Banana and K.K. Null (25th Sept @ Shimokitazawa Shelter )Grey Skies Are Going To Clear Up... : HUSKING BEE (5th Sept @ Shibuya AX )no title : V∞REDOMS (8th Aug @ Ebisu Liquidroom )CD review : Andre Ethier With Christopher Sandes : Andre Ethier2003Cause Music Must Be Magic : Mayor McCa (21st Dec @ The Casbah,Hamilton, Ontario )Make It a Double : EVANESCENCE (28th Jul @ Shinjuku AX)Getting Knifed in Tokyo : Shonen Knife / bloodthirsty butchers(12th Jul @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Hail Hail! Some of Japan's best come together to pay tribute to San Diego's finest : TRIBUTE TO ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT feat. John Speedo with Jet Boys, Retro Gretion, and KEMURI, (21st June '03 @ Shibuya Club Quattro)The Canucks are Coming! The Canucks are Coming! : Simple Plan & GOB (26th Apr @ Akasaka Blitz)no title : Banda Bassotti with Doberman, Oi Skall Mates & Rude Bones (12th May @ Kawasaki Club Citta)The Enchanting Sounds of Summer : KEMURI (31st May @ Shinjuku ACB Hall)Absolutely F**king Brilliant!! : The Coral (21st Apr @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)no title : Short Circuit w/ Asparagus (24th Mar @ Shibuya AX) |