Osaka female power trio Shonen Knife may not be the most technical outfit around, but there is something about their no-frills approach and whacked out song titles that appeals to me. Only two songs in, and Naoko was already singing a "spam warning" (which regardless of whether it refers to the revolting processed meat product or the revolting processed willy enlargement email, I'm sure we can all relate to), immediately followed by "Flying Jelly Bean Attack". Unfortunately my command of the Kansai dialect isn't what it should be so I'm afraid I can't elaborate further on the exact nature of the attack, but apparently "When it gets dangerous, Call out for a rescue". In any event, it proved short-lived and non-fatal, so it was time for a visit to the sushi bar. A bit of crowd participation here, and during the song she managed to list every type of sushi I've never heard of, and a few I'm convinced she made up.
So far things had been conducted with the sort of energy you'd expect for songs entitled "Explosion" and "Flying Jelly Bean Attack", but the pace seemed to slow perhaps slightly for "Like a Salmon", swimming free and not sliced up in the aforementioned sushi bar, presumably.The next few songs, particularly "Herbs" and "Kumo no Ie" (spider's House?) were delivered in a much mellower fashion and really highlighted the two part vocal work by Naiko and Ritsuko. And then, of course, it was time for the Shonen Knife "Space Christmas", shortly followed by Etsuko's power house drums and "Girl's Rock" combining to be the cue for the crowd to go fully nuts. The gig basically then continued along at a frenzied pace and it was all over. Phew! 17 songs, and it's suddenly done! Interestingly enough, although Shonen Knife are the guests of Eastern Youth tonight, I noticed that in a few weeks time, on their home turf of Osaka, things are reversed and Eastern youth are Shonen Knife's guests. So, Eastern Youth next, and like Shonen Knife a band I have had the pleasure of seeing at Fuji rock festival in the past. What can you say about this crazy bunch? Another "Power Trio", yes most certainly, but with no disrespect to Shonen Knife, Eastern Youth are much more multidimensional. 
They came on stage to a backdrop of totally over the top dramatic opera, with main man Hisashi Yoshino lumbering on under a cardboard robot monster head that he'd obviously spent the previous 30 seconds in the dressing room constructing. This he dismembered pretty rapidly, hurling the bits into the crowd, thus probably creating the most prized lumps of twisted cardboard box in Japanese entertainment history.
The operatics over with, Yoshino was handed the first of the two Yamaha SGs he would use for most of the evening, and part one of a pattern that was very quickly stamp itself immediately began to emerge. Before almost every single number, Yoshino staggered about the stage claiming, but more than likely feigning, the effects of too much sake, waxed poetical for a few minutes, cracked a few profoundly funny lines, and then crashed into the song.Well I don't have much of an idea what he was on about, but judging by the reaction of the crowd he has a viable career ahead of him as a standup comedian if the bottom falls out of Eastern youth, however unlikely that looks. And once the music started, you realize the delayed start is worth the wait. They may have started out as one of the original Sapporo Oi! punk bands, but unlike many of their contemporaries they have continued to grow musically, and these days purvey a brand of high energy rock but with more dynamic to their tunes than most bands in this genre. While undoubtedly very driven by Tamori Atsuya's drums and the thumpingly melodic bass of Tomokazu Ninomiya, almost all of the songs contain their subtleties. Some of the best intricate fretless bass work was displayed by Ninomiya on the song "kakatonaru". Starting as usual with some clever little pings and slides at the top end to accompany Yoshino's philosophical hilarity, the actual tune was, for me, a display of fingerboard gymnastics that had me contemplating rushing straight from the gig to Ochanomizu to purchase a fretless precision myself and get to work on it. And all, I noticed, run through a Hiwatt 200 head, the amp of choice for many a bass wizard these days, and plenty of guitarists as well. Eastern Youth have plenty to offer beyond the expected punk three piece thrash, and I recommend anyone finding them within viewing distance do so. I unfortunately had to drag myself away shortly before the end of this gig as the smoke levels inside Club Quattro were so I high I was in danger of spontaneously contracting cancer of the whole scheme of things. Other than that, another great night in Shibuya. |
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report by sean The photo of Shonen Knife is from izumikuma's report on the 8th of Jul. and the same of Eastern Youth is from keco's report on the 8th of Jun. this year.
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 mag files : Eastern Youth photo report : (06/12/19 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : review by sean, photos by kecophoto report : (06/06/08 @ Liquidroom Ebisu) : photos by kecophoto report : (06/05/21 @ Fukuoka Drum Be-1) : photos by suguta |
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mag files : Shonen Knifephoto report : (06/12/19 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : review by sean, photos by izumikumaNever Too Old To Party : review by shawn, photo by izumikuma (06/07/08 @ Shibuya Club Quattro)photo report : photo by izumikuma (06/07/08 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) |
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The official site Eastern Youth http://www.hadashino-ongakusha.jp/ check 'em? -->  the latest album  "365-Step Blues" (国内盤 / US import) previous works :
"DON QUIJOTE"(国内盤)
"矯正視力〇.六 [MAXI]"(国内盤) "What Can You See from Your Place"(国内盤 / US import) "世界は割れ響く耳鳴りのようだ"(国内盤) "Eight Teeth to Eat You" with CURSIVE(US import) "感受性応答セヨ"(国内盤) "雲射抜ケ声"(国内盤) "旅路ニ季節ガ燃エ落チル"(国内盤) "踵鳴る"(国内盤) "静寂が燃える"(国内盤) "雨曝しなら濡れるがいいさ"(国内盤) "風ノ中"(国内盤) "青すぎる空"(国内盤) "裸足で行かざるを得ない / 道端"(国内盤) "孤立無援の花"(国内盤) "その残像と残響音"(DVD) "アーカイブス 1997-2001"(DVD) |
The official site Shonen Knife http://www.shonenknife.net/ check 'em? --> The Latest Album  "少年ナイフ ゴールデン ベスト" previous works
"ライブ イン オオサカ" (国内盤)
"Candy Rock" (国内盤) "MILLENNIUM EDITION" (国内盤) "Strawberry Sound" (国内盤) "All I want for [MAXI]" ( 国内盤) "HAPPY HOUR" (国内盤 / US import -OZ press / UK import) "バナナチップス [MAXI]"国内盤) "Ultra Mix"国内盤) "SUPER MIX"国内盤) "ESP [MAXI] "国内盤) "WONDER WINE [MAXI]" 国内盤) "LET'S KNIFE"(国内盤 / US import / UK import) "Heavy Songs" (国内盤 / US import) "Birds & B-Sides" (US import) "Rock Animals" (US import) "オレンジの太陽 [MAXI]" (国内盤) "飲茶桜でめちゃうまかろう [SINGLE] " (国内盤) "IT'S A NEW FIND" (国内盤) "Greatest History" (国内盤) "Favorites" (国内盤) "DO THE KNIFE" (国内盤) "バナナチップス [SINGLE]" ( 国内盤) "Brand New Knife" (国内盤 / US import / UK import) "712" (国内盤) "BURNING FARM" (国内盤) "山のアッちゃん" (国内盤) "Brown Mushrooms [SINGLE]" (国内盤) "Concrete Animal [SINGLE]" (国内盤) check the albums? |
 2006Knock 'em out!! : Lily Allen (15th Nov. @ Shibuya Club Asia)What's Katy Going To Do Next? : The Pogues (6th Oct. @ Shibuya AX)2005Flogging Molly within a mile of Ebisu Station : Flogging Molly (29th Sept.. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)Liquid Room Meltdown!!!! : Ash (11th Jul. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)Can I play another song? It won't be a long one! : Little Joe Washington & The Eastside Kings with Jungle Hop(16th June. @ Shibuya Quattro)Stapling iit Together : Jack Johnson with G.Love & Special Sauce (2nd June. @ Tokyo Kokusai Forum)2004Not just along for The Ride : Los Lobos (7th Oct. @ Liquidroom Ebisu) |