We’d been counting the sleeps until the Shonen Knife gig: it was like waiting for rock’n’roll Christmas, and it didn’t disappoint.
Admittedly, the two newest band members (bassist Ritsuko Taneda and drummer Emi Morimoto) don’t match Naoko Yamano’s grit. That’s not meant to be disparaging, they rock plenty hard – they’re just a wee bit too cute. That said, bugger all was going to take the shine off this and it didn’t just shine, it fucking sparkled – starting, quite literally, with the costumes. I’m not sure if they still make their own, but it’s left us with a weird hankering for a teal overdress. They were also sporting matching sweatbands and towels, which we now also want, despite the fact that we’re not remotely sporty.
Yamano has respectfully suggested that this is the band’s strongest lineup and also that their new material is among their best. We’re inclined to agree: it’s a reverse case of “I like the old stuff better than the new stuff” (we love the old stuff too, it’s just that last year’s release Overdrive was one of the best albums of the year). With that in mind Green Tea, Like a Cat and Ramen Rock kicked arse.
The onstage rock antics were gold (they were synchronised), but it was Morimoto’s effort to distract the crowd during a tech glitch that took the cake (prefacing it with a show pony “look at me,” she proceeded to raise her feet over her head. Keep that in mind the next time you’re under the gun).
We also loved their crowd interaction. Sure, they’re made in the mould of The Ramones, but this is punk with manners. Never have we been so profusely thanked or praised – Morimoto, for instance, tells us, “I like green tea and Australian wine – arigato,” provoking a cheer and Yamano hails us as, “Melbourne rock city.” Indeed.
BY MEG CRAWFORD
Loved: Everything, but the relentless positivity of the band and lyrics win. With two songs about cats, god knows how many songs about food and a version of On Top of The World for an encore that would make The Carpenters shit, what’s not to love?
Hated: Couldn’t say. Not because we’re keeping it a secret, there was just nothing to displease.
Drank: Water.
