Let's Knife!

Shonen Knife came to Ottawa for the first time March 11. I just got back from the show a few minutes ago (at least as I write this ... probably won't be a post before 9 p.m.). Interesting (and large) crowd; a few Japanese folks (university students and the like, I presume), some younger people and quite a few thirty-ish types ... Just think, Burning Farm was released back in 1983. There were people at the show who were still wearing funny animal PJs when it came out. But then Nakao and Atsuko are thirtyish themselves these days.
They played about two dozen songs, including a pair of encores. Opened with Konnichiwa (naturally!); Tomato Head, ESP, a Rubberband singalong, Kappa Ex. all got a run through, Ride On The Rocket (complete with phaser pedal-assisted wooshing), The Ramones' I Want To Be Sedated. Much jumping (okay, bouncing), frequent "Arigatos". Songs from their latest (e.g. A Map Master, about Nakao's bad sense of direction) and even newer songs slated for a Japanese release were also played. I particularly liked the one about catching a spider. Much fun was had by all.

The Empiricals started things off with some tasteful instrumental music, patterned on Asian film scores. Three-quarters of these guys are Hi Lo Trons; the band's undoubtedly a descendant of guitarist Paul Hogan's earlier outfit Polaris.



Nakao! And her pink plastic guitar.



Atsuko! Also responsible for the Mondrian-inspired design of the band's stage duds.



Etsuko! (Nakanishi, that is - a.k.a. Ettchan.) Formerly of Pink Pander; hands down winner of the World's Cutest Drummer title, and a very capable one at that.



Consider this a taster; other pictures have yet to be developed ...