Here are my reports of Shonen Knife activities and shows in Japan & the U.S. during Year 2007. I hope you will enjoy learning about their year in music here and news about the band from my visits to their shows during this time. Shonen Knife are greatly respected in Japan and their shows are enthusiastically received. Here are special moments from some of their activities & performances in Year 2007:
UPDATE ~ December 24, 2007: My Reports from 5 of the U.S. Shows performed by Shonen Knife, begin here - with their show in New York City!
UPDATED 1/18/08: Now Online: My report of Shonen Knife Space Christmas 2007 in Tokyo ~ Very big crowd, and lots of fun!
Now Online: Special Reports from the East Coast U.S. Tour - by Fans who were there! Frank Perri! Bill Olding! & "Captain Purple"! Lots of photos! U.S. Fans 2007
Report: January 1, 2007: Countdown Japan Live!
A Happy New Year!
Shonen Knife performed for Countdown Japan yesterday, but I did not go there. I have seen some live comment about that show, however. Shonen Knife has a new Bassist!! Her name is "Tomoko"! I was guessing whether Ritsuko left from Shonen Knife, because, she is busy for her band "Electric Candy." They have a lot of gigs now, so she has to attend to that.
She was a support bassist for Shonen Knife, about 9 months. The new Bassist might have been practicing with them between those shows since April, I guess. I will go to Shonen Knife gig soon and meet the new Bassist, so I will report to you soon about that!
I hope you enjoy the new year!
Mamiko!
Report: January 2, 2007: New Shonen Knife Support Bassist, Kaori!
Here is information on the first Shonen Knife support bassist in 2007, Kaori. Look at Naoko's blog of 01/01/2007: (Since this report, Kaori continued with her original band , and she has been replaced by Tomoko.)
The photo: Naoko (vo. & guitar), Etsuko (drums) and Kaori (support Bass)
Here on "Countdown Japan": Shonen Knife's photo:
Kaori's face is not clear in both. :(
Also, I give this big news to you!:
It is the
17th Anniversary of "Space Shower" opening a T.V. Station. A special DVD: "SPACE SHOWER ARCHIVE SHONEN KNIFE LIVE 91/05" will be released on Feb 23rd. (35 minutes.). It features Shonen Knife Live at Tokiwaza Asakusa in Tokyo in 1991.
Here are the tracks from "Live Shower" DVD, 91.10.6:
1. LAZYBONE
1. Quavers
Actually, I have that Video from Mr.Page when he died. "Live in 1991" is before I became a fan. Their performance is still learning, is not so good yet by this show! The audience is quiet. But, it is authentic original Shonen Knife! So, it is history. Also, "Live in 1994": I went to see this live, moreover I took the photo with them, back then. I showed Mr.Page my design for the sleeve sample of "NARITAINA SHONEN KNIFE" on this day! I remember strongly!!! I am so happy for live DVD to be released. But, it is Region Code '2'. I am sorry that the Michie fan of the US can't play it on their DVD players!
Long time fan,
Report: January 15, 2007: Kaori is a super bassist!
I have seen Shonen Knife's first show in 2007, yesterday. Before the show, I went to their dressing room and met them. Kaori is a beautiful woman - she looks like a fashion model!! Her height is abound 5' 7" (170cm).
Kaori has her own band called "Drillman" (from Kyoto). Mana Nishiura was drummer in that band long time ago, but they were not joined with "Drillman" together. There was Mana before Kaori. Kaori was born in 1974. I saw Drillman last year in April at Mana's memorial show in Kyoto. Kaori was there, and she knows Mana. She was surprised at me that I am the owner of the website of Mana. She said, "I have seen her website, you make it? Wow!!" We became a good friend. :)
Current Bassist info: Michie, Atsuko and Ritsuko all looked like "girl next door" and don't have a resume as bassist. Kaori is greatest in the history of Shonen Knife Bassist. She doesn't use a pick and performs by her fingers. But Ritsuko is more natural for the Shonen Knife mood. Ritsuko was traditional like Michie and Atsuko. You can understand by their "style" of playing: Etsuko is better than Mana for Shonen Knife's world. right? Mana and Kaori are real drummer and bassist at Kansai style (Osaka and Kyoto) independent music scene. They are too much "experimental" skill for Shonen Knife power sound. About singing the chorus - Her voice fits well with Naoko, but it seems she was shy to sing yet.
After the show, too - Naoko, Etsuko, Kaori, Atsushi, Emma and I had a good time in their dressing room. Kaori is cool beauty but not stuck-up. She is good girl! As a result, I forgot to take the photo. :(
Shonen Knife set, "Live in Harajyuku Astro Hall" on Jan 14 2007:
1.Explosion!
I said to Naoko: "Messy Room", "A.A.A.", "Mushroom Hair Cut" and "Seiuchi" (the walrus) made me remember Mana. Those tunes are painful for me."
Franka Potente (starring in "The Bourne Identity" and "The Bourne Supremacy") and her staff had come to take a picture for a short film in Tokyo. The gig images from last night's Shonen Knife will be added to it, too. Before the show, Atsushi (manager) and Naoko asked while showing me the note, "Are you familiar with movie? Do you know them? We don't know of them at all."
I saw Franka enjoy the gig at the front side of the stage! I don't have details of the movie they were filming. If I get it, I'll pass the information on here!
Kaori heard Naoko and my conversation in the dressing room and said to me, "Wow! You are a walking dictionary of Shonen Knife!!" Her words made me recall Mana. Mana also said this to me one time.
I wish Shonen Knife had three Bass players: Atsuko, Ritsuko and Kaori! All are very good!
The next Shonen Knife gig in Tokyo is March 24. I am looking forward to meet them again.
Movie expert,
Mamiko!
Report: Mar 4, 2007 - Alternate Bass player!
Here is "short news" story:
At the Shonen Knife, "Live in Osaka" of February 2007, the Bass Player was not Kaori!! A Bassist named CHIZURU performed for it. I don't know anything about her, no information. You can see her photo at Etsuko's blog. She is same height like Naoko. Atsuko will return from L.A. to play in the next show in Tokyo this month. So, I can't meet Chizuru. They might not fix support Bass Player for a time, yet.
The names Atsuko, Etsuko, Ritsuko and Chizuru... they are a crackjaw name for American people to say, maybe?
Baseball season is coming soon, I can't wait!
Mamiko!
Shonen Knife report: March 18, 2007. Show at Zherth ZOO, Yoyogi, Tokyo.
Atsuko returned from L.A. for several weeks in Japan. A lot of fans came from Osaka, Nagoya etc.... to see her.
It was her first show, from last July. I am seeing only three times a support Bass player with the band, so I didn't think "long time no see". haha! The hall was full and in the air, it was HOT.
Naoko asked Atsuko on the stage: "How about today's live show, and your new life in L.A?"
Atsuko: "I am so excited and happy to play Shonen Knife again. Live performing is wonderful. In L.A., I have the cable TV of the program of Japan and I am watching it every day! But, I have so missed Japanese sweets! American cake is not delicate - it is too sweet."
Naoko was telling the fans in her blog on the website: "We will play a RARE song there". That song was "Buddha's Face"!
Naoko: "We have not been playing this since 1998."
Atsuko: "It is the first time that I perform this song with Bass. I was the drummer before!"
Naoko: "In 1998... Etsuko is not born yet."
Etsuko played with amazing power on "Buddha's Face"!!
After their show, they had autographs and photos with fans at the entrance. I decided to wait for them in the dressing room, so they returned after a while.
Mamiko: "Attchan, (I call her it) - you are BETTER for Shonen Knife!"
Atsuko: "Thanks! I am so glad that you say so!" We all had a lot of chat there.
Setlist:
They will begin recording next month for new CD! It will be released in July in Japan.
Like a Ringo Starr,
I went to instore live at Apple Store Tokyo Ginza of Shonen Knife yesterday. Some songs at this day performance will be sold with iTune Store later!!! It is wonderful information for their fans all over the world!
Here is their setlist:
1. Riding On The Rocket
#4 and 7 are tunes from their new CD "fun!fun!fun!" Release date is in July.
Apple Store 3F theater is not club, it's mini-theater. It is the first time to see them in such a situation for me. The audience did groove only by the upper-body, because they were each sitting on a seat.
More interesting sites:
Have you ever seen this? Mana plays the drum:
Shonen Knife - A.A.A. (Live at the Fuji Rock Festival 2002)
Shonen Knife - A.A.A. ~ Live at the Fuji Rock Festival 2002!
Shonen Knife - Messy Room & Twist Barbie ~ Live 2003!
Shonen Knife Forever!
Mamiko
I saw the 712 live in Nagoya and Tokyo. The first edition of "fun!fun!fun!" has a misprint on the back sleeve. Track #9, "MINAMI-NO-SHIMA" (meaning: "southern island") "MINAMI" is south, "No" is particle, and "SHIMA" is lsland.) is the right spelling. But, it is printed in the first edition as "MIMAMI-NO-SHIMA." . Naoko asked everyone at "712 Live" in Tokyo: "Fun! Fun! Fun!" has a misprint on the back sleeve. I was quite soon to notice it. Is there a person here that has the back sleeve that was printed as "MIMAMI-NO-SHIMA"? It was her question - to which all the fans there had to raise their hand! Naoko's humour made all the crowd laugh. Also Naoko said, "It was only 100 copies, the next second edition will be printed right." So, the first edition is of great value in the future!
I am glad of that misprint, because my name is MAMIKO. The misprint said: "miMAMInoshima". Hey, "MAMI" is my nickname!
The second encore was "Top Of The World". Naoko performed the introduction with the guitar. It was a strange sound! Everyone should have thought so. Me, too! I thought that Naoko might stop performing. But Naoko continued it! After 8 bars, she stopped performing and said: "What?!! I made a mistake? How come?!!". Tomoko confirmed the notes on the fret of her bass. (I am sure Etsuko and Tomoko said by a silence...."Naoko-san your guitar is out of tune.") Naoko shouted: "Oh!! My guitar is out of tune! What a terrible sound! I need little tuning time. Say something ~ talk, Etsuko, instead of me!" Etsuko became the master of ceremony of a silence! (She is VERY shy.) Soon Naoko finished the tuning and performed the introduction again. All the fans saw Shonen Knife's "fun, fun, fun" side on that night. It made everyone happy!
The current support bass player Tomoko became good at the bass very quickly! When I first saw her in June, she was not as practiced. Tomoko doesn't recall Michie's bass performance, and she doesn't know Atsuko yet. She saw Shonen Knife for the first time at the end of last year. (w/bassist Kaori.) She surprised me as a new support bassist, very much like the other person in Nagoya. I said to her after the show, "Tomo-chan! Good Job! You practice a lot, don't you? You were very good tonight. I enjoyed your performance without worry!" Tomoko's face was suffused with a broad smile, she was pleased with my words.
I have met three support bassist for Shonen Knife here: Ritsuko, Kaori and Tomoko. I didn't meet Chizuru. All of these three girls both have good personality! Shonen Knife have "good friends!"
Setlist at 712 Show:
Etsuko Nakanishi is featured in a present issue of Japanese Drum magazine! (She is pretty and now has many young male fans!) New album, "Fun! Fun! Fun!" starts and ends with Etsuko's drum. Many photos of her are in the album! Birthdays for the Fans to remember: Naoko Yamano is December 18, Etsuko Nakanishi is July 11 and Tomoko Abe is July 5!
Here are the song titles on "Fun! Fun! Fun!", in english:
1. Jyuryoku-Mujyuryoku (gravity & zero gravity) Check out the video for this song on My Space featuring Naoko and Etsuko! "...after all, the place that you reach at last... might be the destination at which you aimed first"
Stay tuned for more news!
Kappa EXpress Reports by:
2. EXPO '90
3. Bear Up Bison
4. Moon World
5. Antonio Baka Guy
6. Devil House
7. Riding On The Rocket
8. Kappa EX
Live at Club Citta Kawasaki in 1994. from Live Shower 94.10.10:
2. Flying Jelly Attack
3. Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
4. Riding On The Rocket
5. Antonio Baka Guy
Mamiko!
2.Twist Barbie
3.Flying Jelly Attack
4.Messy Room
5.A.A.A.
6.Mushroom Hair Cut ..... Etsuko performed this for the first time on the stage.
7.Seiuchi (the walrus) ..... Etsuko performed this for the first time on the stage.
8.Sushi Bar
9.Top Of The World
10.Buttercup (I'm A Super Girl)
11.Riding On The Rocket
12.Giant Kitty
13.Antonio Baka Guy
Naoko: "Yes, our "Candy Rock" CD was her activity time for Shonen Knife."
I said: "But Kaori who knows Mana, it is a wonderful fate that she performs it."
Naoko, "It is a marvelous idea."
I said: "Yes, I am familiar with Hollywood movies. I see 70 and more movies every year. Of course, I have seen "The Bourne Identity" & "The Bourne Supremacy" both. I am sure that she must not have been a known American actress before. She became famous by these movies."
Naoko, Michie, Mana, Kaori and Mamiko: These pronunciations are easy. right? haha!
1.Messy Room
2.SPAM
3.Riding On The Rocket
4.Golden Year's Of Rock'n Roll
5.I Am A Cat
6.Mushroom Hair Cut
7.Mysterious Drug Store
8.Buddha's Face
9.Like a Salmon
10.A Map Master
11.Bear Up Bison
12.Explosion!
13.Giant Kitty
14.Orange Sun
15.Antonio Baka Guy
Mamiko!
Shonen Knife report: June 11, 2007. Shonen Knife Live at Apple Store: Tokyo, Ginza.
2. Girls Rock
3. Top of the World
4. Jyuryoku-Mujyuryoku
5. Rubber Band
6. A Map Master
7. Ramones Forever
8. S-P-A-M
9. Orange Sun
10. Giant Kitty
11. Antonio Baka Guy
The meaning of "Jyuryoku" is gravity... "Mujyuryoku" is zero gravity.
"Ramones Forever" - It was made for the respected Ramones.
Naoko sings: "Ramones Forever, Music Forever, Punk Rock Forever" in the lyrics.
....they are great lyrics! Everyone might love these words.
Of course, the theater was full of their fans - even in the aisle!
Support Bassist on this day was Tomoko.
Shonen Knife report: July 17, 2007: Shonen Knife 712 Day Shows!
1. Konnichiwa
2. A Map Master
3. Girl's Rock
4. Twist Barbie
5. Jyuryoku-Mujyuryoku (from fun!fun!fun!)
6. Barnacle (from fun!fun!fun!)
7. Concrete Animals
8. SPAM
9. Rubber Band
10. Cookie Day
11. Minami-no-shima (from fun!fun!fun!)
12. Flu (from fun!fun!fun!)
13. Ramones Forever (from fun!fun!fun!)
14. Messy Room
15. Riding On The Rocket
16. E.S.P.
17. Explosion!
18. Orange Sum
19. Giant Kitty
20. Cobra vs Mongoose
Encore1: 21.Chinese Disco, 22.Parallel Woman, 23.Antonio Baka Guy.
Encore2: 24.Top Of The World.
2. Barnacle (lyrics in english)
3. Flu (influenza) (lyrics in english)
4. Ramones Forever (lyrics in english)
5. Las Vegas (lyrics in english)
6. Birthday (lyrics in english)
7. Popcorn (Naoko sings: "Let's make a popcorn; the material is not GM" - meaning, "genetically modified!")
8. I Want To Eat A Cookie (Naoko names many favorite cookies: Coffee, Greentea, Teacookie, Cocoa, Peanut, Almond, Coconut & Walnut!)
9. Minami-No-Shima (Southern Island) Naoko sings about the environment: "The Southern Island sinks in bottom of the sea. It's a warning sign from the Earth!"
10. Oyasumi (Good Night: "good night and have a happy dream")
"Southern Island Girl Reporter":
MAMI-ko Nakagawa.
PLKC Mamiko Nakagawa
Shonen Knife Correspondent, Japan
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