Hello, Everyone Shonen Knife Fans. It took me awhile after the tour, before I actually had time to get this report together... and I apologize for that. But, here is a commentary and some photos from the appearances by Shonen Knife on the "Knife and Dagger Tour", at their 3 shows in Southern California at the Casbah (San Diego), Glass House (Pomona) and the Knitting Factory (Hollywood).
For many years now, I have made an effort to document their appearances when they come to this area - for their personal archives. They originally found their first U.S. fan base here in Southern California, so it's a bit of a "homecoming" when they perform in this area. Some years have been better than others, in terms of my ability to get a good photographic record for them. This year, I had high hopes that it would go well. But, sometimes it doesn't work out that way, and my efforts this tour weren't up to the quality of documentation I was able to achieve on previous appearances.
I was trying out a camera with a good telephoto lens this year... it was sent to me by my brother, and I'd already taken some great outdoor photos with it. The only way to learn the proper settings for a camera like this - is to experiment with it and "shoot a lot of film" in order to determine the best settings. I just didn't have time to get all that done, with the tour fast approaching - but I thought it might just work fine at the outdoor setting I'd had excellent results with. So, I took it along to photograph their shows.
Didn't work out - likely, too slow a shutter speed and the photos from this camera were streaked. But, I brought along my trusty little 35mm photoflash camera - and didn't let the moment pass completely empty handed! The other problem was the clubs that they were appearing in generally had some kind of "issue" with photographing bands on their premises. The Casbah in San Diego was cool... they're always cool - and I got some good close-ups of the band right at the foot of the stage, as I have in several past appearances there! Of course, when you're right at the foot of the stage - it's hard to get all three members in the photo at the same time! Great fan base for Shonen Knife in San Diego, too - and we know some of these fans by name ("Yo, Richard!") and look forward to seeing them at the tour stops there each time!
The "Glass House" in Pomona is a very large room - first time Shonen Knife have performed there - the ceiling is two stories high and it's built like a bomb shelter. As it turned out, the first winter storm was blowing down from the north that night, and they leave the front door open to the club - so the cold wind was blowing straight into the club, along the wall, and "piling up" right where I was set to photograph the band from the balcony! And, the floor manager started reciting the club policy of "no photographs unless it's all cleared by the booking agents well in advance!!" He finally relented and said, "Well, I'll just pretend I don't see what you're doing." So, I had to make a tactical decision and decided I would just stay there in the balcony and try for long distance shots to the stage, rather than try to get up in the crowd and be hassled by every floor "official" in the place about my photography. It was not a good arrangement, and the fact that the "trial" camera settings weren't finalized for an indoor flashing lights environment - it did not produce good results - but I did what I could and the photos are here - enhanced as best I could do them - for this report on their Pomona show.
Shonen Knife played a great set at the Casbah on 12/7 - very up close and personal with the crowd right up at the stage! Their show at the Glass House on 12/8 was also very well received - their sound was pristine as always and they did their full set of tunes and the encore as well. After these shows, they spent quite a long time at the "merch table" (run by the very capable Tomoko and long-time Tour Aide, Robin Easton) chatting with the fans, taking photos and signing the CDs, etc. Masahiro Takahashi came over from Japan to see these 3 shows, as he has in the past - great fan of the band there. I had just come down from my perch in the frozen balcony (no one up there but me & a thermos of hot coffee), where I was trying for the photographs I wanted... and I was frozen *stiff* from the wind blowing through there - like a *frozen mackerel*, boys and girls!!! Masahiro-san wanted a photo of me with Shonen Knife... and frankly, I look very much like the frozen mackerel that I felt like at that point! 
Ahh, the things we do for art!
The show at the Knitting Factory on December 9 was a great show. They have a fabulous sound system there, good acoustics - and Shonen Knife always sound in top form at this venue. UN-fortunately, the club was really grouchy this year about letting me videotape the show (for Shonen Knife's personal archives - not for general release) and take photographs. On 2 previous tours by the band there - I had no problem with it - the stage manager on those occasions went out of his way to accomodate everyone. Their first show at the Knitting Factory, was back when Mana was the support drummer - and it was her birthday, so it was a very special night. The photographic record of that show, is now a treasure. The next show there was with Etsuko on drums (on her first U.S. tour with Shonen Knife) and that was a memorable (and well documented) show in turn. But, the "floor manager this year" finally relented and said I could use "one video" and "one still camera" only. So, I got the job done, but it wasn't nearly as good as I had planned it. The little flash camera saved the day on that one again... as the big camera flash didn't want to cooperate.
Here are the photos from these three venues... I'll include a little comment on some - and I hope that all Shonen Knife fans will enjoy them and understand that sometimes, "you got to pay your dues if you want to photograph the blues.... and you know it don't come easy!"
We look forward to future U.S. Tours by Shonen Knife.... and hope to see all their great fans at every stop along the way! Happy to meet so many fans from Southern California and I hope you enjoy these "hard won" photos!
George Ojisan
The Shonen Knife NeXuS
Los Angeles, CA
2008: Celebrating 12 years online - for Shonen Knife
- Top of This Page.
- Top of Main Page - www.shonenknife.com!
- Shonen Knife Home Page: Japan!
- Shonen Knife on "My Space" - video, photos and many friends!
Peace, Love and Shonen Knife!
