 Shonen Knife @ Shibuya Club Quattro (8th July '06)
Never Too Old To Party
Their annual "712 Day Party" may have come a bit early this year, but that didn't stop the ladies in Shonen Knife from throwing one hell of a shindig.
Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, the Osaka trio delighted a near-capacity crowd by performing sugar-sweet selections from throughout their career. With a new live disc, Shonen Knife: Live in Osaka, a tribute album featuring the likes of Zoobombs, DMBQ, and Eastern Youth presenting their own versions of classic Shonen Knife tracks, A Tribute to Shonen Knife - Fork and Spoon, and a greatest hits compilation, Golden Best, all recently being released, the band had a lot to celebrate as they took to the stage at Club Quattro.
Many of the songs from Golden Best surfaced during the energetic set. Foreign and Japanese fans of all-ages eagerly bounced along to fantastic tracks such as "Mysterious Drug Store" and "Explosion!" Dressed in matching outfits, guitarist Naoko Yamano and her sister, bassist Atsuko Yamano smiled and swayed back and forth while turning out their simple, yet incredibly catchy, punk-pop anthems. Drummer Etsuko Nakanishi, who became an official member of Shonen Knife this past May, did an excellent job of keeping the beat while enthusiastically singing along to each number.
Surviving two-and-a-half decades in the music industry is so small feat, but Shonen Knife make it look easy. Their formula for success - make things as uncomplicated as possible - is one that more bands should follow. Their live performances stick to this principle. There aren't any flashy lights, video screens, or explosions. There aren't any gimmicks, wild stage moves, or obnoxious, cheesy banter. There's simply three women playing rock music and having a lot of fun while doing so. Their honest, humble approach has made them one of Japan's most popular musical exports, gaining them fans across the globe and netting them accolades from some of the biggest names in the alternative music scene.
Finishing their set with "Giant Kitty", a loud chant of "Shonen Knife" filled the room as the band began to walk offstage. The ladies came back out and toweled themselves off with some custom made "Shonen Knife - Osaka" tennis towels before launching into a cover of "Satisfaction." As soon as they left again fans instantly began screaming the band's name once more, resulting in the group emerging for one last excellent song, "Elmer Elevator," before calling it a night.
Continuing to get better with age, if this is how good Shonen Knife sounds at 25, I can't wait to see what they are turning out after the band's 30th, 40th, and 50th birthdays.
|
report by shawn and photos by izumikuma
|
|
2006
 An Early Summer Night's Dream : Belle and Sebastian (3rd Jun. @ Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball)
Zoobombcrazy : The Zoobombs (6th May. @ Yoyogi Zher The Zoo)
F-U-N : Limited Express (Has Gone?) (2nd Apr. @ Yoyogi Zher The Zoo)
Full CCCIIIRRRCCCLLLEEE : Cave In (25th Mar. @ Shibuya Club Asia)
The Perfect Storm : Mono (18th Mar. @ Shibuya O-Nest)
School Of Rock : The White Stripes (6th Mar. @ Zepp Tokyo)
Far From Extinct : Dinosaur Jr. (27th Feb. @ Shibuya AX)
Vintage Valentine : Showa Genroku Crazy Tangoku feat. Thee 50's High Teens, Salome no Kutibiru, The 50 Kaitens & The Captains (13th Feb. @ Shimokitazawa Club 251)
Walk The Line : Afrirampo (29th Jan. @ Higashi Koenji UFO Club)
Every Girl's Crazy About A Sharp Dressed Man : Kaiser Chiefs (23rd Jan. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)
All That And Looks Too : Tristan Prettyman (22nd Jan. @ Shibuya AX)
2005
Merry Christmas and Happy... Halloween?!?! : Afrirampo with Oshiripenpenz and Watsui Zombie (19th Dec. @ Daikanyama Unit)
Brothers In Arms : Bloodthirsty Butchers with +/- {Plus/Minus} (4th Dec. @ Shibuya AX)
This Is Rock N' Roll : Oasis (20th Nov. @ Yoyogi Daiichi Taiikukan)
Shake Your Rump : Rovo (5th Nov. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)
Majestic Doves Battle Evil Spirits In Tokyo : Doves (30th Oct. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)
DVD review : RGB : sianspheric (17th Oct.)
Needs To Be Seen To Be Believed : Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra (16th Oct. @ Yokohama Thumbs Up)
Shimmy Shimmy Ya : Zilli**Sweet Oriental Dance Show feat. Zilli, Eshe, Ken, Shinshi, and Mananbu (8th Oct. @ Shibuya Udagawa Cafe)
Something Old And Something New : Time Bomb Records 15th Aniversary Feat. Blind Beast (Thurston Moore+Jim O'Rourke+Yoshimi), The Evens (Ian MacKaye+Amy Farina) with Ruins alone, Tamio Inoue (18th Sept. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)
Half Hour Of Power : Punkrockers Bowl Vol.11 Feat. Razors Edge, Melt-Banana, Wrench (10th Sept. @ Shinjuku Loft)
A Mind Is An Awesome Thing To Blow
: Fantomas & Zu (5th Sept. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)
With A Little Sake Always Makes For A Good Night : Cubismo Grafico Five with Sakerock (27th Aug. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)
Cool Sounds From The Underground : "What's That Sound?" Feat. Four Tet, Caribou, Mugison (20th Aug. @ Laforet Museum Roppongi)
Expect The Unexpected : Metalchicks with Kiiiiiii and Asa-Chang & Junrei (16th Jul. @ Shibuya Lush)
All The Young Dudes : Jude (10th Jun. @ Yokohama Blitz)
The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades : Date Course Pentagon Royal Garden (6th Jun. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)
The Life Aquatic With Yo La Tengo : Yo La Tengo (28th May. @ Laforet Museum Roppongi)
The Little Things : Boom Boom Satellites (29th Apr. @ Shibuya AX)
Interview : Insanely Brilliant : Les Savy Fav (30th Apr.)
Organized Chaos : Shibusa Shirazu (17th Apr. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)
Socially Aware And Ready To Party : Asian Dub Foundation w/African Head Charge (10th Apr. @ Shibuya AX)
Nice And Simple : Jimmy Eat World (4th Apr. @ Shibuya O-East)
Nothing A Few Sweets Couldn't Fix : Lemon Jelly (29th Mar. @ Shibuya AX)
Groove Is In The Heart : Tabla Kwaiesa (6th Mar. @ Yokohama Silk Road Buto-Kan)
Interview : Constantly Evolving : 90 Day Men (13th Mar)
It's Party Time! : The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Benevento/Russo Duo (28th Feb @ Shibuya Club Quattro)
Weekly Service : The Chemical Brothers (12th Feb @ Shibuya AX)
Tattoos and a Whole Lotta Hair : EXTREME THE DOJO Vol.12 feat. Every time I Die, As I Lay Dying and Shadows Fall (7th Feb @ Shibuya Club Quattro)
Geography At Its Best : ISIS (5th Feb @ Shibuya Club Quattro)
To The Extreme : The Shins (31st Jan @ Harajuku Astro Hall)
CD review : "Panopticon" : Isis (27th Jan)
Winter Be Damned : Ash (17th Jan @ Shibuya AX)
Interview : Peaceful, But Far From Quiet : Mono (20th Jan)
CD review : "The Nein" : The Nein (13th Jan)
|
|
mag files : Shonen Knife
