Shonen Knife at The Echo

Inspired by a great new album and Halloween, I went to The Echo last night to see Shonen Knife. I've only missed one or two of their stops in L.A. since the early '90s, but am still always shocked by how much fun they are.


Opening the show was the legendary Mike Watt. These days, the bass player from 'Pedro plays songs spanning his entire career, including Minutemen songs like "This Ain't No Picnic." He battled some health issues a while back but looks great right now and still totally rips. He must be in at least four or five bands (including The Stooges).


This lineup was the Secondmen, which inserts some interesting keyboards into the complex, catchy, and powerful rhythm mix. Amazing. At the end of every show, he shouts, "Start your own band!" So inspiring and awesome. There's still no one who brings the thunder like Watt.


Next up with Ty Segall. Must have been tough for a young guy to follow a lifer like Watt, but he did it the best way possible by straight-up saying how honored he was to share the stage with Watt and the Knife. Segall has some really great songs himself, though, including this one from his new album, which I'm glad he played. He plays a lot of dreamy, fuzzed-out garage rock, but "Lovely One" is the dreamiest and most fuzzy.


The headliners from Osaka have gone through a number of lineup changes, leaving singer/guitarist Naoko as the sole original member, but they're not by the numbers in any way. There's a ton of exuberance, not a trace of being jaded, and most of all, pure fun.


Musically, they're probably better than ever. The earliest Shonen Knife songs had a charming DIY aesthetic that was exhibited on early releases on K, Sub Pop, and Dutch East India, but by the time Virgin signed them, the energy was matched by polish. Now they're even stronger.


Naoko is still the front person, with a lot of great between-song banter and rocking. I think this was during one of their earlier hits, "Ride the Rocket."


Bassist Ritsuko totally shreds. You can't see her, and I didn't get many pictures from where I was standing, but Etsuko is a real animal on drums, too. The new and old songs sounded great, from old, raw, atmospheric tunes like "I Like Choco Bars" to newer ones like their NWOBHM tribute, "Muddy Bubbles Hell."


Ripping it up. Yes, Naoko has played with Shonen Knife alongside heavy-hitters like Nirvana, Mudhoney, Redd Kross, Sonic Youth, Fugazi...


I was hoping that locals like Redd Kross, The Chemical People, or even Rodney Bingenheimer would have showed up, but maybe they just met for lunch. We were treated to original drummer/bass player/Naoko's sister Atsuko, though, who came out to sing the encore, "Fruits and Vegetables." A perfect ending. (I hear she's going to join the band for the remainder of the tour...)


Unless you're going to Osaka any time soon, check out the band now! You won't regret it. They're going to San Diego, Arizon, Fun Fun Fun, and more...