Gig Review: ヘイホー、レッツゴ Shonen Knife's Happy Pop-Punk Always Cuts Through

Gig reviews were gone. But I want to bring them back. So I'm doing my best. One gig at a time. I saw Shonen Knife. Third time for me. Always lucky. Always fun. Always great!

Shonen Knife

San Fran; Wellington

Thursday, March 7

I first saw Shonen Knife in 1997 — the Japanese pop-punk trio was riding high all around the western world with their cover of the Carpenters’ Top of The World, as recorded for the tribute album, If I Were A Carpenter. Well, that’s how I remember it, the tribute album had been out for 2-3 years by then. Still, their happy-happy-joy-joy cover of Top of The World remains a highlight of each and every set.

Formed in 1981, by sisters Naoko and Atsuko Yamano, Naoko’s been on vocals and guitar as the sole original member — touring and recording now for over 40 years. But whilst Astuko vacated the drum stool after her first 18 years in the band, she would leave only after another 15-year stint on bass. She’s back now too, again playing bass, and adding her vocals.

I saw Shonen Knife one other time, in recent years, and as with this show, it’s all about short, sharp blasts of pop.

They open this gig with Konnichiwa. And just as that word is a shortened greeting, this too is a shortened version of a song — their ‘welcome’ theme. We get KISS-styled guitar antics and a bubblegum pop-punk feel straight away. And it’s fun! It’s meant to be of course.

From there it’s to Banana Chips and Twist Barbie, ahead of a pop tune simply called Pop Tune. At most shows where a dreaded new album is mentioned, and then played from, there’s usually a lull. Not so with Shonen Knife. Songs from 2023’s Our Best Place tumble from the stage (MUJINTO Rock, Nice Day, Afternoon Tea) and the tight pack up front, dancing, enthralled by it all, only seems to get tighter.

It’s then back a half decade to Sweet Candy Power for the sugary glow of its title track. Sometimes drummer Risa Kawano takes a lead vocal, but usually it’s Naoko. Sometimes Atsuko too. And there area lots of songs about food.

There are barely any gaps between the tracks, in the early few numbers, a stick-click count-in for a new song arrives super-quick on the back of the closing swirl of cymbals for the previous tune. It’s a 90 minute joy-ride through poppy, happy choruses. Lots of songs abut food. These songs are both light and robust at the same time, uncomplicated — but it would be hard to see anyone replicating this formula in this way. It’s a sound and vibe and feel that is all their own; they may take from Phil Spector and Beach Boys and (early) Beatles and Ramones and there’s even some Shadows and Ventures moves to accompany the hints of surf-rock’s great influence, but this is a sound that is ultimately all Shonen Knife.

Predictably, their Carpenters cover is their closing encore. And of course it threatens to tear the roof off. I did not know there were that many Shonen Knife fans in Wellington. But I’m sure glad there are.

Speaking of ‘sure’, and excellent cover-song selection, local openers, Sure Boy, were fantastic. And the bullseye shot of covering Alanis Morissette’s You Oughta Know was a boss-move. They play fun, upbeat pop songs too, making them just right for this slot. And they have a lead singer that has the right charisma to seemingly win over any audience. And great musical talent across the board to back that up. They’re going places! Just hopefully not too far away from Wellington for too long.

What a fun gig, once again. A great couple of bands to pair. A great nostalgia walk with Shonen Knife.