Shonen Knife's live DVD comes from the last night of the group's 2009 Super Group tour of North America. The band plays an exuberant 18-song // 60 minute set that spans their catalog, playing as many songs from Super Group as they do from Pretty Little Baka Guy.
While there have been some lineup changes over the past decade around core member Naoko (vocals/guitar), the band's brand of bouncy power-pop continues on unchanged. Amusingly, the band breaks from their traditional sound for the doomy "Muddy Bubbles Hell" (from Super Group) and Naoko introduces the song by talking about how the band was influenced by the NWOBHM bands of the 80's. Adding to the fun, original drummer/bassist Atsuko makes a cameo appearance and joins the band on "Fruits and Vegetables".
The band talks with the crowd frequently between songs and seems quite happy to be playing in front of this Buffalo crowd. This show is filmed with multiple camera and the editing does an excellent job of capturing both the enthusiasm of the band and the audience along with the Shonen Knife live experience. This is just pure fun and the show is all about celebrating the moment as opposed to trying to save the world .
Shonen Rock is heading out on a US tour next week in support of their latest CD Free Time (Good Charamel Records). The tour stops at the Knitting Factory on Sept. 28 and Shonen Knife is playing with Hard Nips and Grooms. Tickets are $12 and the show starts at 8PM.
Here is the complete run of tour dates:
09.14.2010 -- Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA
09.14.2010 -- Amoeba Music, Los Angeles, CA (free - 5PM)
09.17.2010 -- Red 7, Austin, TX
09.18.2010 -- The Loft, Dallas, TX
09.19.2010 -- Record Bar, Kansas City, MO
09.20.2010 -- The Cave, Northfield, MN
09.21.2010 -- Schubas Tavern, Chicago, IL
09.22.2010 -- The Strutt, Kalamazoo, MI
09.23.2010 -- Midpoint Music Festival, Cincinnati, OH
09.24.2010 -- 31st St Pub, Pittsburgh, PA
09.25.2010 -- Asia Society and Museum, New York, NY
09.26.2010 -- Rock and Roll Hotel, Washington, DC
09.28.2010 -- Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY
09.29.2010 -- Daniel Street, Milford, CT
09.30.2010 -- Pop Fest Montreal, Montreal, ON CAN
10.01.2010 -- Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ON CAN
10.02.2010 -- Mohawk Place, Buffalo, NY
Links:
Shonen Knife
Friday, September 10, 2010
Shonen Knife - Live at Mohawk Place 2009 DVD Review // Show at the Knitting Factory on Sept. 28th
Posted by Mike at 10:49 PM
Labels: Etsuko, Good Charamel, J-Pop, Knitting Factory, Lollapalooza, MVD Visual, Naoko, Pretty Little Baka Guy, Shonen Knife, Sonic Youth, Super Group