Shonen Knife at the Rock n' Roll Hotel, Washington, DC 2010

Okay look, I know it was a Sunday night and it was raining, but if you didn't make it out to Shonen Knife's September 26th show at the Rock n' Roll Hotel in Washington DC, you really missed out on something special. Shonen Knife demonstrated once again that they love doing what they do best, and they never do it half-way.

The ladies from Osaka got up on stage around 11pm and got to work right away
with their set, blazing through classics like "Twist Barbie" and "Banana Chips" that sounded as fresh now as they did when they were first recorded. Songs from their two most recent albums, "Supergroup" and "Free Time" , like the already classic "BBQ Party" and the ode to the giant cuddly rodent called a "Capybara" were just as endearing and fun to hear, The crowd was oddly a bit shy at the beginning of the show, but it wasn't long at all before everyone started getting into the spirit of this epic rock n' roll moment, and before long the entire room was screaming and cheering as they danced to the Knife's infectious tunes with abandon.

Shonen Knife founder Naoko was in great form, and clearly was enjoying herself as she played to the crowd and led the band through early material and new anthems as well. She displayed her well-known rapport with the crowd that made the show feel like a gathering of friends more so than just a superstar rock concert. Her good spirits were magnified by bass player Ritsuko, who lit up the room with an enthusiastic energy and pure joy that made everyone forget the rainy night outside. I just adore Ritsuko for what she brings to the band, and it's always great to see her.

And then there's new Shonen Knife member Emi on drums, and I have to say she is absolutely amazing. Emi-chan went from being a new face into a cherished member of the band in virtually no time at all. Her boundless positive energy and sparkling personality is irresistible within seconds, and simply can't fail to win you over. See them live and you'll know exactly what I mean!

The show went by quickly, but it never felt rushed or forced. The pacing of the songs was perfect, and the three of them played tightly without feeling overly slick, It was quite simply a perfect night of rock n' roll. As the lights went up, the smiles on the faces of the audience beamed around the room. We walked over to the merch table, which is run by their fantastic tour manager and fellow artist, DJ Sashimi, who's every bit as kind and likable as the band members, to check out the goodies and get autographs from the members of Shonen Knife….

What else can be said? Shonen Knife was fantastic, and continues to be more awesome everyday. There's still a few stops on this tour, and you owe it to yourself to go see them. As for me, I can't wait to see them again. Next time they tour my way, I'm going again for sure. In the meantime, my memories of last Sunday evening will keep me smiling…

Shonen Knife North American Tour 2010!!!

Rock n Roll supergroup Shonen Knife are on a North American tour right now, traveling across America & parts of Canada, leaving thousands of glowing, happy fans everywhere!

If the Knife is coming to your town (or at least close enough to travel), you owe it to yourself to enjoy a night of legendary music with some very cool and sincerely nice ladies. It's easily one of the most fun bands I've ever had the pleasure to see live, and it'll leave you feeling great when the night is over.

One of the great things about the internet is that plenty of videos and images from the gigs will show up as the tour continues, plus you can use Twitter and Facebook to keep up with the band's journey to your town...

Here's a video from the tour's very first night in Seattle. As you might expect from the first stop on a tour, the band struggles with a few sound problems, but despite the issue, Shonen Knife's positive attitude handles it so well that it actually makes the show more enjoyable. Also, a fabulous introduction to new drummer Emi Morimoto. She's appears to be full of personality and lots of fun!

And make sure you check out Good Charamel's website and their blog , where you'll see complete tour dates and links to other places on the web to keep up with the tour.

Also check out these Twitter accounts:

Naoko @ShonenKnife

Ritsuko @SK_Ritsuko

Good Charamel @goodcharamel

And their super-cool tour manager & fellow recording artist, DJ Sashimi @dj_sashimi

You can also follow my "Tomato Heads" twitter list.

Naturally we can expect more great videos, photos and fun tweets as the tour progresses, so keep an eye for more awesome Shonen Knife stuff!

As for me, I'll be rockin' with the band in Washington DC, on the 26th. See you there!

Supreme Nothing's 1/2 Hour of Power: Episode SEVEN!

There's no stopping it, this podcasty thing has taken hold of me, and I must unleash this sweet and wonderful music to waiting ears everywhere! It's time for episode seven!

Something just clicked in my brain somewhere, and this episode came to me quickly and flowed with little effort. I'm not taking this podcast business too seriously, and the result is already one of my favorite installments. I really love this episode, and you will too.....

Here's the song list....

Morning Musume - Ai No Tane (Japan) (Buy CD) (or iTunes)
Messieurs Richard De Bordeaux & Daniel Beretta - Phychose (France) (on iTunes)
The Three Suns - Fever (USA) (on iTunes)
Thee Girlfriends - Rock & Roll (Spain) (MySpace)
Betsy & Chris - Shiroi Iro Wa Koibito No Iro (USA/Japan)
Parvati Khan - Jimmy Jimmy Ajaa (India)
Shonen Knife - Tower Of The Sun (Japan) (Amazon) (SK on iTunes)
Triste Janero - You Didn't Have To Be So Nice (USA) (Buy it)

You can download the goodness

right HERE!

Here's some sneak previews...

The Hawaiian duo Betsy & Chris, who became popular folk singers in Japan...


Jimmy Jimmy Ajaa, from the awesome cult Bollywood film "Disco Dancer"...


Thanks and enjoy the show!


Note: The purpose of Supreme Nothing's 1/2 Hour Of Power is to share music that deserves to be heard. We encourage you to support the artists behind the music you love. There is no profit to be made from this podcast, and no commissions are being received by the links provided to purchase music.

Let's Have a Shonen Knife Party...

Because I never need an excuse to post videos from my favorite band in the whole world.....


Lately I've been listening to Shonen Knife's wonderful album Brand New Knife like crazy again. Explosion!, Tower Of The Sun, Budda's Face, & Wind Your Spring are a few of my favorite tracks. Here's another classic gem, E.S.P.!



Next up we have some footage from Shonen Knife's recent trip to the The Philippines! Here they rocking an enthusiastic crowd as they scorch through Riding On The Rocket with the original Japanese lyrics!



Here's something from Rock Animals era knife! Check out the two fans bopping from side to side around (around 2:20) - That's exactly how Shonen Knife make me feel!



Amateur video of Shonen Knife at the FUN FUN FUN Fest in Austin! I would have loved to have seen this awesome outdoor show... (And Melt Banana was there too!)



Oh wow, classic Knife! From 1991! At CBGB's! So awesome I might cry...




Enjoy these videos and let Shonen Knife make your day a little better! I know it works for me!

Shonen Knife Offers You Perfect Freedom!

The supergroup from Osaka refuses to slow down! You either get with it or get out of the way!





Their new album "Free Time" came out in Japan earlier this year, and a domestic version will be out this summer thanks to the groovy people at Good Charamel Records!

We're also getting a concert video, and quite possibly a North American tour this summer too! Yep, Christmas is early this year!

In the meantime, keep superdrummer Etsuko in your thoughts, she'll be on a temporary leave from the band. Hope we see her again soon....

Five Days of Shonen Knife: Day Five - Live Knife!

November 13th, 2009 was the day that Shonen Knife, one of my favorite bands of all time, came to my town and delivered a night of blistering rock n' roll that left me an even bigger fan than I already was. What an awesome night!


Answering the call to rawk....


As you can see, the little point & shoot camera I brought along wasn't really up to the task of taking pics of the action. Oh well, I guess you could argue that my blurry photography fit the spirit of the moment anyway...


Naoko may always be a humble music fan in her heart, but years of touring and recording have made her a true rock star. She really engages the crowd and clearly loves to play music. She was terrific to watch.



Bass player Ritsko and drummer Etskuo really do carry the Shonen Knife torch proudly. They absolutely fit into the band perfectly and really captivated the crowd with an infectious enthusiasm! Plus, they're top-notch musicians.


For us old-school fans, there was a very special treat. Atsuko, Naoko's sister, and Shonen Knife's original drummer (later bassist) was there! She joined the band on the last leg of the tour, and came up on stage for the encore!


The show went by so fast! It was a great night of good vibes, positive energy, and rock n' roll!


My friend Chip had the foresight to take a photo of the set-list. Thanks Chip!


It was a good feeling to see the band signing the posters I made! The posters were a big hit it seems. I had several people approach me and tell me they liked them, and that was very gratifying. Just before the show, Shonen Knife's super-cool tour manager, (and a multi-media whiz in her own right), invited me behind the scenes and the band thanked me too!

I gave the band members some candy, including Jujuy Fruits, Whoppers & Swedish Fish, and then proceeded to forget everything I intended to say to them. I mostly just smiled and nodded. :)

The band, Atsuko, and their tour manger were wonderfully nice and friendly people. Truly the most sincerely kind rock stars I've ever met.


My loot from the night, including a broken drumstick and an official Shonen Knife workout towel! (Everybody needs one) I also brought along the CD insert from one of Shonen Knife's early USA releases specifically for Atsuko to sign.


All in all, an amazing night that I'll never forget. I spent the evening with some true icons, and it was a gloriously satisfying experience I have to say. I don't know when they'll tour North America again, but I can tell you that I will definitely go wherever they play next time around.

Thank you Shonen Knife, for renewing my faith in rock n' roll.

Five Days of Shonen Knife: Day Four - Why Do We Love Shonen Knife?

Shonen Knife was a pet project imagined by two office ladies that originally met in college. They started out with a quickly recorded cassette tape and highly rudimentary musicianship. They didn't even quit their day jobs until the mid-nineties. So how did Shonen Knife become a beloved phenomenon that's lasted for 27 years?


It's simple, really.

Shonen Knife is still loved today because they tapped into something the world needs badly. A wonderfully positive vision that never turned a cynical eye onto the world. To see a band that sings about jellybeans, cookies, and the joy of bicycling without a hint of sarcasm and irony makes them a true breath of fresh air. Shonen Knife frequently experiments with new styles and sounds, but they never changed the vision. They're the Ramones on a sunny day.


Shonen Knife is still loved today because of the bond they've formed with their fans. Everything I've heard is that all of them have always been very approachable, friendly, and kind to their fans. It makes sense when you think about it, after all this is a band made by fans of music themselves. Shonen Knife exists purely out of a love for music, and it shows.


Shonen Knife is still loved today because they understand exactly what rock n' roll is supposed to be. Their music is simple, but wonderfully catchy. They've recorded songs that are up there with the best pop-nugget classics.

One day listening to their music, I realized that I knew all the words without ever trying to memorize them. Their music gently became embedded in my head, and now I find myself humming their songs all the time. I don't mind it one bit. :)



So you see, it's easy to love Shonen Knife, and it's no mystery how they've managed to continuing rocking after 27 years. They have one of the best formulas for musical longevity I've ever seen, and I hope they're around for another 27 years.

If you're fellow fan, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Why do you love these ladies from Osaka so much?

Five Days of Shonen Knife: Day Three - Knife Collector Link-O-Rama...

So in this installment of Five Days of Shonen Knife, I thought I'd make an attempt at gathering a bunch of links and resources for all you Shonen Knife freaks.

By no means can I say that this is an exhaustive list. If you know of something online that's too good to not be included here, then feel free to share it in the comments!


I pretty much have to start with the THE SHONEN KNIFE NEXUS! This easily to most through place on the web for all your Shonen Knife needs. Here you'll find band history, an overview of their recordings, new and old tour info, and reports from fans all over the world. I love this site!


There's also of course their official web site! A fine place to get a glimpse into the SK universe. There's mostly Japanese content here though, so your mileage may vary.


This well-written FAQ was last updated in '97, but is still is quite helpful, and it also explains what happened to the Knife Collectors Fan Club...


Yeah, I know MySpace is kind of gaudy and spammy, but when you visit Shonen Knife's MySpace Page, it's a lot more bearable. There's always the music samples!


Unfortunately, a busy band like Shonen Knife just doesn't get enough time to maintain their Twitter account, but thankfully their new American record label Good Charamel is helping out. Their Twitter is full of mostly daily tour updates and fun tidbits. I'd follow both for good measure. :) UPDATE: SInce this was written, Naoko has been tweeting much more frequently, and often shares tour info, as well as tennis updates! Follow her!


Speaking of Good Charamel, Shonen Knife's western label has done a heck of a job promoting the new album and offering tour support. Their Shonen Knife webpage will be handy for following up on future releases.


Panache Booking is the band's booking agency here. You can download some nice resolution promo photos, and their stage plot diagram. (Hey, why not?) I sort of doubt you can just call and book SK for your birthday party, though...



If you're an LJ user, here's a community for you!
The Journal for Shonen Knife Fans


I know I just dissed MySpace for being crass and tacky, but once it's redeemed by 712 Boneyards excellent blog, The Naoko Zone! Pete makes no secret of his Shonen Knife devotion, and it shows in every post. The man is a true Knife Collector. Tons of fresh YouTube links too!


Alright, so how about music n' interviews...


Jenny Woolworth's Women In Punk Blog is full of neat stuff, and you'll going to especially love this. She's got MP3s of "Minna Tanoshiku", Shonen Knife's first cassette tape! Only 70 total copies of this ever existed, so unless you've got some dough, you're not getting this rarity any other way! It's available right here!


Youpidou's terrific blog Gle-Gle has got five, count em' FIVE fan recordings of Shonen Knife shows ranging from 1992 to 2005, and they all rock! Get em' here!


A 1997 interview with the band here!

A phone interview with Naoko and Michie, also from 1997, right here!

An interview with most recent incarnation of the band is available at J-Pop World. Now you can find out their blood-types!

And Style Invasion has a very recent interview with Shonen Knife, focusing on their fashion sense!


Photos And Other Stuff...

J-Blogger Mallocup has some nice photos from a Tokyo show back in March over at I Rub Your Brog.

A cool and very recent set of pics from Flickr user letsmakeart...

Also a rockin' set from the current tour by photographer Erik Hess...

A nice group portrait from Steve Hopson. What a charming trio!

Flickr user Ventolin sums it up well: "Shonen Knife, Period!"

Flickr user jcbehm serves up some freaky psychedelic images from a show at the The Entry.

And hellokitty2399 has some groovy shots from a recent show at a club called Mangos.

Whew! After all that, what do we do next for Day Four & Five? I'll figure it out tomorrow!

Five Days of Shonen Knife: Day Two - The Redd Kross Connection...

One more reason to love punk rock/power pop legends Redd Kross is that they were instrumental in helping Shonen Knife reach across the pond and find a larger audience.

少年ナイフ had already been together for a few years when Jeff and Steve McDonald of Redd Kross, (along with Thurston Moore) helped them them get a series of gigs in the USA, thus spreading word of the cult-band to new heights. Jeff McDonald and drummer Victor Indrizzo also lent a hand on Shonen Knife's first official full-length album in America, the must-have classic 712.



On 712, the ladies from Osaka decided to record a tribute to Redd Kross. The song is an awesome little gold nugget on an album of wonderful gems...



The mutual admiration didn't end there. Redd Kross returned the favor on their underrated album Third Eye with a song appropriately titled "Shonen Knife"...

"Come right in now, enjoy a choco bar
With the Shonen Knife
Yes, the rock and roll stars
Then wash your face at the public bath
Just around the corner, down the bamboo path, uh-huh"

Alright, more Shonen Knife goodness tomorrow. See ya later!

Five Days of Shonen Knife: Day One....

As I've said before, I'm very eagerly anticipating the the Shonen Knife show coming to my town this November 13th!

I'm finally going to see one of my favorite bands of all time, a band I've loved since I first got to hear their recordings in the 90s!


In celebration of the big event, I'm going to share Shonen Knife goodness for the next five days!

Let's kick it off with some terrific early Knife footage, courtesy of YouTube user rolltammy! This clip is just the encore, but if you click through, you'll see that the entire concert has been uploaded!



Tomorrow, I'll post some more video, and some cool links as well, see ya then!

Shonen Knife North American Tour 2009!

When I heard that Shonen Knife, one of my favorite bands in the whole world, is going to stop by my town next month, I just knew that I had to create a poster for them. I have to say I'm pleased....



The super group from Osaka kick off their North American tour this month! You can see the tour dates here. Go out and support em'!



Shonen Knife visits Richmond, Va. on November 13th at the fabulous Plaza Bowl, brought to you by the good folks from Community Chest! See you there!