way back when, all the way to 8th grade i believe, i first learned about shonen knife. two friends at camp were talking about them, and i was told they were my kinda band, with songs about eating choco bars and being lazy and big fat cats. i was a bit on the fence, but i decided to check them out. a few months late i was in a newbury comics in boston (for those who dont know what i newbury comics is, its a chain of stores in new england that sells new and used cds, books, comics, toys, crap, and anything else they feel like, they are alot of fun) with a friend, and i found in the rock section a few shonen knife cds. the one with the most songs on it, the birds and the b-sides, a b-side and rariety album found its way to my hands with curiousity and excitement. i dont know what to expect really. i only new of japanese music through anime, and i was just starting to learn about music in general. when i finally got home after train rides and comics and video game adventures, i put the new cd in the player and heard a cover of the old motown song, heatwave (love is like a) and went wide eyed with awe. i hadnt ever heard anything so fun, lo-fi or awesome (except for the ramones which me and the same friend discovered the previous summer) the rest of the cd didnt really grow on me for a while until i bought later cds, and with good reason, it was a b-sides collection, not an intended hooking album, unlike rock animals, happy hour or brand new knife. years past and college finally arrived. i was a sophmore at my old college outside boston, and the same friend from past adventures had learned about the one and only shonen knife was playing in the city in a few days. it was febuary, cold as fuck, and i had yet to get a ticket as a small group of us left for the show. it was in a small venue and it sold out, heart broken, one of the members of our expedition gave me his ticket after explaining he had only heard one of there songs before. i was saved! after some random crap band, three japanese girls, who were all in there 40's but didnt look it, got on stage and ROCKED. speaking in broken english and singing in both english and japanese, they hopped, screamed, jammed, and kicked total ass. we were blown away. they even played a ramones cover, at which point we learned they were honorary ramones (it all comes full circle). after the show, they talked to every fan with smiles and thank yous. they seemed genuinely happy to see me and my friends and autographed everything i had on me.
now its almost three years later. i was sittting my studio in the library building when an old instructor of mine comes a knockin. i was showing him my work when he noticed my signed shonen knife poster proudly hanging on the wall. he informed me they were playing soon some were, and i should go see them. i freaked out all over again. low and behold, there they were, at the blender theater. a block away. even better. but before i bought my tickets i figured i take a shot in the dark and see i could get free ticket via my radio station connections. and bam! not only did i get a ticket, but i get 4 pairs of tickets. after a fun and unexciting giveaway the tickets were handed out and ready for the show. the day of the show arrives and me and my girlfriend head to the show. a quick bite to eat and i phone call from a fellow station buddy, "they're on right now!" crap! i shove sandwich in mouth and run arcoss the street, we get out tickets and walk into the venue, japanese girls ready and rocking out. while it was still a small crowd, it was still way too exciting. we locate friends and dance in our places to songs about sushi, rocket ships and super hero girls. and it was amazing, all members played brilliantly, and yet it seemed completely second nature and unusually easy. after a pretty short set, they did two encore songs and left. i didnt see a merch table and was let down. the bounces started to kick us out and told us we could go down stairs to the lounge bar. on a hope i figured i could ask the girls to sign the poster i made for thier show. we get down stairs and theres the merch table and the band. the same scene of a small yet mightly group of odd fans vcrowd around for autographs and handshakes, and i do the same. i show them the poster and after a few seconds they understand what i said and smiled and called it really cute and signed it happily. after cds and autographs and fan-boyness, i was content to leave, unsure if and when i will be able to rock out again. we then hop over to the grand saloon, on the way of out one block walk home to meet friends. and thus, completing my fanboy freak out.
