Japans long-running all-girl trio Shonen Knife is down to one original member: Singer-guitarist Naoko Yamano. Bassist Michie Nakatami quit in 1999, and Naokos sister and drummer/bassist Atsuko retired from music in 2008. So, no, theyre not exactly the same band that Kurt Cobain fell in love with over Naokos bizarre lyrics about bugs, banana fish, jellybeans, ice cream, and chocolate bars, and brought out on tour with Nirvana in 1991. Or the one that inspired Sonic Youth — so taken by the bands sweetly punky, spunky power-pop to headline the 1989 tribute album, Every Band Has a Shonen Knife Who Loves Them. But Shonens new Free Time sounds almost exactly like their previous output (they are the Ramones of Japan, after all), so everyone but the pissy purists will still have a great time tonight. With The Pharmacy, The Purrs. MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG
Wed., Sept. 8, 8:30 p.m., 2010
