Live Review: Shonen Knife

Sure it’s crowded, and there’s a bunch of art jerks pushing you out of the way with their expensive bottles of white wine because the last concert they probably went to was a very groovy Joan Baez happening in 1976 and they’ve long since forgotten how to act at a concert, but the confluence of Osakan pop punk legends Shonen Knife and the Gallery of Modern Art’s Future Beauty seems very good on the first cymbal crash.

As the cymbal rings out and Naoko Yamano hits her first big fuzzy note this reviewer watches an old woman recoil instinctively, face alight with uncertainty. But this delight quickly fades in the face of the realisation of how unsuitable the space is to host a punk rock show. Though Shonen Knife are playing against a delightful backdrop that looks like a Harajuku street corner, they’re stuck, literally, in a corner and people throughout the space are left craning their heads trying to catch glimpses of the trio.

But that’s a quibble with the space and not the band. Shonen Knife are sharp tonight. Drawing on some of the stand-out cuts from their back catalogue – E.S.P. is a highlight of the set – the band quickly endear themselves to the big crowd. Equally adorable with their enthusiastic banter – Naoko introduces one of the band’s many songs about food by saying, “The exhibition was excellent. I like fashion. But I also like food.” – and their KISS-style synchronised guitar moves, Shonen Knife quickly have the art gallery crowd eating out of their hands.

Then the three-piece cover The Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Bop and everyone loses their shit. In the delight in people’s faces you can see they’re thinking, “It’s a song we actually know.” The cover receives a riotous response and has the crowd considering the parallels between The Knife and Joey, Johnny, Tommy and Dee Dee.

To say that Shonen Knife are Japan’s answer to The Ramones is apt, especially because there is that 2011 album entirely of covers, Osaka Ramones, but in a sense it’s unfairly reductive to the longevity of the former. Shonen Knife have kept writing very good records for over 30 years. Where are The Ramones now? They’re dead, that’s where. Shonen Knife probably have a lot more in common with The Hard-Ons, because the years haven’t seemed to diminish their ability to pump out infectious pop punk. Some of the material off last year’s Overdrive record is the strongest in the set – the bouncy bubblegum choruses of Bad Luck Song are too good to ignore and the driving bass line of Ramen Rock is superb. Here’s hoping we get a chance to hear these songs in a proper club some time.