All photos by James Broscheid
On October 13, 2025, the legendary Japanese pop-punk trio Shonen Knife rolled into The Rebel Lounge in Phoenix, AZ, delivering a masterclass in enduring energy and infectious positivity. Since forming in 1981, the band has charted a unique course through the global alternative scene, blending the buoyant rhythms of 60s girl groups and surf rock with the raw immediacy of punk-pop. Four decades on, their influence remains profound, and their live performance proved they are in peak, highly entertaining form.
The current lineup features founding singer and guitarist Naoko Yamano alongside her sister, original member Atsuko Yamano on bass, and powerhouse drummer Risa Kawano. Their arrival on stage was a burst of color and camaraderie: beaming smiles, celebratory rock salutes, and matching, Mondrian-inspired outfits handmade by Atsuko, perfectly embodying their signature DIY aesthetic.
The concert unfolded as a jubilant “greatest hits” celebration, a riff-tastic journey through their extensive 44-year catalog. The set list expertly balanced beloved early favorites like “Twist Barbie” with newer tracks such as 2016’s “Jump Into The New World.” The crowd responded instantly, singing and dancing along to kitschy, indelible bangers like “I Am A Cat” and the famous, food-centric anthem “Banana Chips.”
What makes a Shonen Knife show so remarkable is the sheer, unironic happiness that pours from the stage. Midway through, the band’s enthusiastic introduction of each other – expressing genuine joy to be back – set the tone for a night where cynicism simply couldn’t take root. The audience, a multi-generational mix of dedicated die-hards and enthusiastic Gen Z newcomers, melted into a state of cross-generational appreciation. There is a quiet subversiveness to their act, succeeding in getting the punks and rockers in the room to punch the air while singing about snacks and animals.
The band patiently navigated repeated shouts for old tunes while trying to showcase excellent material from their latest 2023 album, ‘Our Best Place’ (Good Charamel Records). The Ramones-esque ode to desert island escapism, which dreams of a place with “no king, there is no queen, there is no prime minister,” offered a glimpse of the utopian ideals that subtly flavor their work.
They concluded the evening with a phenomenal, rocking rendition of The Carpenters’ “Top of the World”—a cover version many consider one of the all-time best. Spending an evening immersed in Shonen Knife’s candy-colored, shouty-chorused orbit is more than just a gig; it’s a balm for the soul, proving that music, at its best, is a unifying force of pure, uncompromising joy.
Setlist:
Buttercup
Twist Barbie
Bear Up Bison
Jump Into the New World
MUJINTO Rock
Vamos Taquitos
Afternoon Tea
Cookie Day
Ghost Train
I Am a Cat
Miracles
Concrete Animals
Wasabi
Green Tea
Sweet Candy Power
E.S.P.
Banana Chips
Riding On the Rocket
Encore:
Burning Farm
Top of the World (Carpenters cover)
Remaining U.S. Tour Dates:
October 21: HopMonk Tavern – Novato, CA
October 22: Harlow’s – Sacramento, CA
October 24: Star Theater and Starlight Lounge – Portland, OR
October 25: Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA
October 26: McMenamins Elk Temple – Tacoma, WA
For more information, visit Shonen Knife, Bandcamp or Good Charamel Records.
