Shonen Knife

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“When I finally got to see them live, I was transformed into a hysterical nine-year-old girl at a Beatles concert.”Kurt Cobain

Shonen Knife are a ground-breaking all-female Japanese, pop-punk trio formed in Osaka in 1981, when Naoko first heard late ‘70’s punk-pop particularly The Ramones. Inspired, the band crafted their own idiosyncratic songs, fashioned brightly coloured outfits and DIY albums. In 1985, K Records released ‘Burning Farm’ in the US. Deals with Sub Pop and various Majors followed. 1989 saw the crème of the alt. rock scene (including Sonic Youth, L7 and Redd Kross) covering their favourite Shonen Knife songs on the tribute album ‘Every Band Has A Shonen Knife Who Loves Them’. They toured with Nirvana (on the ‘Nevermind’ tour), The Breeders and as part of Lollapalooza. They recorded sessions for John Peel and appeared on MTV’s ‘Beavis and Butthead’ . In 2010 the band released the album ‘Super Group’, played Matt Groening’s curated ATP, extensively toured the UK, Europe, North America, China and Taiwan! In 2011 the band celebrated their 30th year anniversary by releasing the albums ‘Free Time’ and ‘Osaka Ramones’, toured Europe and the US, played to thousands at the Summer Sundae festival, a live session for Marc Riley on BBC 6 music, an interview with Radcliffe and Maconie, and rounded out the year with a limited edition Christmas Single ‘Sweet Christmas’. In June 2012 Shonen Knife release their 18th Studio Album ‘Pop Tune’ and tour North America this August, and Europe in October. Showing no signs of slowing down, these girls are only looking forward to the next 30 years. As Naoko says, ‘Let’s Rock!’

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RECENT PRESS
Uncut: “rocks like Motorhead designed by Hanna-Barbara”
BBC Music: (Louis Patterson – ‘Freetime’ )    “The Osaka Ramones, you must concede, still have it.”
BBC Music: (Jude Clarke ‘Pop Tune’ ) 7/10 “While by no means succumbing to the blank-eyed nihilism of their heroes the Ramones, then, this album nevertheless hints at a jaded corner in the psyche of this sunniest of bands. It might even, ultimately, make them all the more appealing.”
The Independent:(Simon Price) 8/10 “There are two types of people: those who enjoy thrashy Japanese girl-punk, and those who have something wrong with them.”
Music OMH: 8/10 “For an incredible 31 years Shonen Knife have been pumping out prototype riot grrrl, thrashing together early punk sounds with pop melodies.”
The Sunday Times: “…irrepressible slice of bounce-along indie-pop. Beguiling.” Stewart Lee
Voted the winner of BBC 6Music’s ‘Rebel Playlist’ by a landslide vote of 88%, which granted the single a play on every daytime 6Music show for a week plus album of the day on BBC 6Music
LondonPaper: (Super Group review)“Part Shangri-La’s, part Ramones, you can’t resist the charm of lyrics … so give in, and don’t.”
Time Out London:“Punchy Pop-Rock”
Artrocker:“Objectively, it could be pointed out that they can only play in a rudimentary fashion, that their songs are ludicrously simple and that they are not doing anything new. Objectivity can fuck right off, because Shonen Knife are brilliant”
The Line Of Best Fit: 7/10 “Robust in its eccentricities and musicianship, Pop Tune makes good on Yamano’s assertion that the current Shonen Knife line-up is its strongest.”
The Skinny: 8/10 “Pop Tune is their most irresistible offering in years”
Louder Than War:“As the world continues to go into economic meltdown we need the distraction of Shonen Knife more than ever – just allow yourself the simple pleasure of singing along.”
Clash: “Ultimately, without using superlatives, Shonen Knife should be set up for life as ambassadors for live music.”
Japan Times:“Shonen Knife are one of the most important bands in history, even if the world at large doesn’t know it”
Time Out Sydney:“It’s a whole lot of fun”
BBC 6Music (Steve Lamacq):“Shonen Knife – they know how to rock – Japanese punk pop at its best.”
BBC 6Music (Gideon Coe):“the most arresting record I’ve heard this week”
Marc Riley BBC 6Music: ‘Perfect Freedom’ Songs of the year for 2011
Gideon Coe   BBC 6 Music ‘Pop Tune’ for Recommended ALBUMS 2012
Time Out Barcelona:“Super Group continues to polish Shonen Knife’s reputation”
Subba-cultcha:“brilliantly bonkers”

SHOWS
22 Sep 2013 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Tilburg Incubate Festival NL
22 Sep 2013 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Tilburg Incubate Festival NL
22 Sep 2013 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Tilburg Incubate Festival NL
27 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Aalborg Studenterhuset DK
26 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Tromso Bastard Bar NO
24 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Helsinki Tavastia FI
23 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Oslo Cafe Mono NO
22 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Gothenburg Pustervik SE
21 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Copenhagen Loppen DK
19 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Utrecht dB’s NL
18 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Hasselt Muziekodroom BE
17 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Brussels Beursschouwburg BE
16 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in London Cargo UK
15 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Norwich Waterfront UK
14 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Belfast Black Box UK
13 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Dublin Whelans IE
12 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Cork Crane Lane Theatre IE
11 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Galway Roisin Duhb IE
10 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Bristol The Fleece UK
09 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Cardiff Bogiez UK
08 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Birmingham Glee Club UK
07 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Leicester The Musician UK
05 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Glasgow Oran Mor UK
04 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Newcastle Cluny UK
03 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Nottingham Glee Club UK
02 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Manchester Ruby Lounge UK
01 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in London Cargo UK
11 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in London Scala UK
10 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Nottingham Bodega Social UK
08 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Utrecht dB’s NL
07 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Hamburg Ubel & Gefarhlich DE
06 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Copenhagen Loppen DK
04 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Helsinki Bar Loose FI
03 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Oslo Cafe Mono NO
02 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Malmo Inkonst SE
01 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Berlin Marie Antoinette DE
30 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Vienna Chelsea AT
27 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Munich Atomic Cafe DE
26 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Freiburg The Great Rang Teng Teng DE
23 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Amsterdam Paradiso NL
21 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Cardiff Buffalo Bar UK
20 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Bristol The Fleece UK
19 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Dublin Whelans IR
18 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Galway Roisin Duhb IR
17 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Belfast Black Box UK
16 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Glasgow Nice ‘N’ Sleazy UK
15 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Edinburgh Sneaky Pete’s UK
14 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Cluny Cluny UK
13 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Manchester Deaf Institute UK
12 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Leicester Summer Sundae Festival UK
11 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in London The Windmill UK
24 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in London Scala UK
23 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Brighton Freebutt UK
20 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Berlin Schlesisches Tor (ex-Kato) DE
19 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Hannover Cafe Glocksee DE
17 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Amsterdam Paradiso NL
15 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Madrid Sala Gruta ES
14 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Barcelona Sala Becool ES
13 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Valencia Sala Matisse ES
12 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Leeds Brudnell Social Club UK
11 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Leicester The Musician UK
10 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Glasgow King Tuts Wah Wah Hut UK
07 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Minehead All Tomorrow’s Parties UK
06 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com Shonen Knife in Bristol Thekla UK