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Shonen Knife at Fine Line
Shonen Knife Setlist
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It was an all-girls night out as Japanese trio Shonen Knife (guitarist Naoko Yamano, bassist Atsuko Yamano, and drummer Risa) headlined the Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis on October 2nd.
Starting off the show was surfy/garagey girl band Black Widows, featuring singer/guitarist Corinne Caouette, bassist Pamela Laizure, guitarist Sara Muellerleile, and drummer Kim Mancini.
The group started their set with a double instrumental (a great cover of Henry Mancini’s “Peter Gunn Theme Song” and “Scam Likely”).
“Baby Boy” was dedicated to Donald Trump, and “Mummy Mama” was dedicated “for the ladies”.
It was a special night for the band, because it was guitarist Sara’s birthday. She would wear a “Birthday Princess” cowboy hat in the middle of their set.
After their last song “Walk Don't Run”, Corinne started to just sing “Happy Birthday To You”, as they brought out a cake for Sara. Apparently, she turned five years old as there were only five candles.
Next up was riot grrrl-inspired trio Kitten Forever (Corrie Harrigan, Laura Larson, and Liz Elton). We’ve seen the group quite a few time (including their headlining 10 Year Anniversary show in 2016).
As with their previous shows, they play Bikini Kill-esque songs… full of energy and keeping in punk tradition of two-minute songs. All three band members traded vocals on their custom telephone microphone, and also traded instrumental duties.
Liz Elton was clearly excited to open for Shonen Knife, stating that she remembered buying their CD at a music store when she was in high school. When she moved out, she gave the CD to her sister… who also became a fan of SK.
Shonen Knife closed out the show. This was the tail end of their month-long 2019 USA tour (with one remaining date left at Cattivo in Pittsburgh)… so naturally the group’s famous merchandise were reduced to whatever they had left. Band leader Naoko had to apologize for only having their T-Shirts in Small and 2XL. In order to try and drum up sales, she would joke that young girls in Japan would buy XXL shirts as it was the fashion.
As we’ve previously mentioned, this is the closest we get to the original Shonen Knife, as original drummer Mana Nishiura died in a car accident in 1999. Since her death, the band took a break and Atsuko Yamano retired from the group. Atsuko would return to the group, because Ritsuko Taneda went on maternity leave. Since 2015, she’s been permanently part of the group (with current drummer Risa Kawano).
As you can see from their setlist, they mostly sing songs about food (with ice cream being the theme to at least three songs). You would find out that the group enjoys cookies, ice cream, and green tea.
Since the tour is for their new album Sweet Candy Power (Good Charamel Records), they grouped three new songs together: “Party” (fast song), “Dizzy”, and “Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches” (which features drummer Risa on vocals).
The remainder of their set features older (80s and 90s) songs… but not necessary hit singles. They saved their best-known songs at the very end: “Banana Chips”, “Riding On The Rocket” (my favorite), and “Buttercup (I'm A Super Girl)” as set closer.
The encore started with The Carpenters’ cover “Top of the World”… which they recorded for their wonderful compilation If I Were a Carpenter. The song finale was “Antonio Baka Guy”, which is the song they’ve chosen to end their set on their entire 2019 shows.
Shonen Knife’s last USA 2019 date will be at Cattivo in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia on October 5th.
Starting off the show was surfy/garagey girl band Black Widows, featuring singer/guitarist Corinne Caouette, bassist Pamela Laizure, guitarist Sara Muellerleile, and drummer Kim Mancini.
The group started their set with a double instrumental (a great cover of Henry Mancini’s “Peter Gunn Theme Song” and “Scam Likely”).
“Baby Boy” was dedicated to Donald Trump, and “Mummy Mama” was dedicated “for the ladies”.
It was a special night for the band, because it was guitarist Sara’s birthday. She would wear a “Birthday Princess” cowboy hat in the middle of their set.
After their last song “Walk Don't Run”, Corinne started to just sing “Happy Birthday To You”, as they brought out a cake for Sara. Apparently, she turned five years old as there were only five candles.
Next up was riot grrrl-inspired trio Kitten Forever (Corrie Harrigan, Laura Larson, and Liz Elton). We’ve seen the group quite a few time (including their headlining 10 Year Anniversary show in 2016).
As with their previous shows, they play Bikini Kill-esque songs… full of energy and keeping in punk tradition of two-minute songs. All three band members traded vocals on their custom telephone microphone, and also traded instrumental duties.
Liz Elton was clearly excited to open for Shonen Knife, stating that she remembered buying their CD at a music store when she was in high school. When she moved out, she gave the CD to her sister… who also became a fan of SK.
Shonen Knife closed out the show. This was the tail end of their month-long 2019 USA tour (with one remaining date left at Cattivo in Pittsburgh)… so naturally the group’s famous merchandise were reduced to whatever they had left. Band leader Naoko had to apologize for only having their T-Shirts in Small and 2XL. In order to try and drum up sales, she would joke that young girls in Japan would buy XXL shirts as it was the fashion.
As we’ve previously mentioned, this is the closest we get to the original Shonen Knife, as original drummer Mana Nishiura died in a car accident in 1999. Since her death, the band took a break and Atsuko Yamano retired from the group. Atsuko would return to the group, because Ritsuko Taneda went on maternity leave. Since 2015, she’s been permanently part of the group (with current drummer Risa Kawano).
As you can see from their setlist, they mostly sing songs about food (with ice cream being the theme to at least three songs). You would find out that the group enjoys cookies, ice cream, and green tea.
Since the tour is for their new album Sweet Candy Power (Good Charamel Records), they grouped three new songs together: “Party” (fast song), “Dizzy”, and “Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches” (which features drummer Risa on vocals).
The remainder of their set features older (80s and 90s) songs… but not necessary hit singles. They saved their best-known songs at the very end: “Banana Chips”, “Riding On The Rocket” (my favorite), and “Buttercup (I'm A Super Girl)” as set closer.
The encore started with The Carpenters’ cover “Top of the World”… which they recorded for their wonderful compilation If I Were a Carpenter. The song finale was “Antonio Baka Guy”, which is the song they’ve chosen to end their set on their entire 2019 shows.
Shonen Knife’s last USA 2019 date will be at Cattivo in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia on October 5th.
Black Widows |
Black Widows | Black Widows | Black Widows | Kitten Forever |
Kitten Forever |
Kitten Forever | Shonen Knife Setlist | Shonen Knife | Shonen Knife |
Shonen Knife at Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (02 Oct 2019) |
