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| Shonen Knife sharing a group hug with C.J. Ramone. More on how THAT happened below. |
"Awwwwwww!"
That's a relatively accurate and encompassing reaction to a Shonen Knife show. Having interviewed frontwoman Naoko Yamano earlier this year and (unfortunately) missing their CMJ performance last month, I was itching to finally see the legendary female pop punk act in person. This was guaranteed to be an especially rad performance, as it was the band's last scheduled appearance in NYC as part of their yearlong 30th anniversary celebration.
And rad it was. We missed Heavy Cream in favor of Peruvian food but arrived just in time to catch Hard Nips, the Brooklyn-via-Japan all-female punk quartet (except with a dude on the drums subbing in for Emi). Having earned a "Band To Watch" distinction by the NY Post earlier this year, they rocked through tracks off of their 8-song EP "I Shit You Not" (hear three tracks from that over here). Having not been acquainted with the band prior, I honestly had a bit of trouble making out the lyrics to most of their songs, Hard Nips rolled through some solid punk and had a great stage presence - especially The Gooch (yup), who furiously but happily stuffed our ears with her thick bass steaks. (If you got that reference without clicking this link, then I owe you a jumping high-five.) But yeah, apparently they were singing about Satan.
They also threw chocolate Nips candy into the crowd and I was literally a finger-length away from grabbing some. I enjoy stage candy.
They also threw chocolate Nips candy into the crowd and I was literally a finger-length away from grabbing some. I enjoy stage candy.
