LIVE REVIEW: SHONEN KNIFE with special guests Turnstyle and Grunge Barbie

I walked into a packed out Milkbar amongst a sea of bodies on Saturday night, where there were a lot of leather jackets on a crowd of all ages, but mostly older than their 30s. Everyone was there to see Shonen Knife but the two supports didn’t disappoint.

Grunge Barbie took to the stage first, a fierce three-piece of slamming bass lines and shredding riffs laid over heavy drums. They gave off pop-rock/garage-rock vibes with their first track to warm up the crowd before delving into a cover of ‘Totally Addicted to Bass’. Grunge Barbie didn’t let us down, as their tunes became rockier and heavier, with the hard-hitting hip-hop hybrid grunge vocals and rhythms laying down the foundation for an awesome set to come.

Their lyrics were fast-paced and catchy, talking about local gem, James St in Northbridge, about driving in your mums’ car, and getting fines. The crowd loved the searing lyrics and angry raging riffs and this is definitely music that you could turn up in your car when you are having a bad day. Grunge Barbie are punchy and fierce chicks with fast-paced hip-hop grunge hybrid riffs. If you like Amyl and the Sniffers, Hole, No Doubt, or music that will slap you in the face and make you glad to be alive, then you’ll enjoy Grunge Barbie.

The second support were Turnstyle, an awesome four-piece of old-school punk-rock meets grunge whom you might find behind the barbecue at your neighbourhood street party. Their stage presence was evident of the decades of musical experience between them, having been playing together as a band for over 30 years. The crowd were digging their vibe, I’d say influenced by the Hard Ons, as the band joked that playing together for so long and playing for 9 hours over the last few days cements the friendship and closeness of their bonds (as they tucked their shirt tags in for each other on stage). Their set contained songs from their first album and their last album, heavier grunge-rock riffs and drum fills.

Turnstyle commented that they have had to turn their volume down a bit as they have such a large stage presence and that was very true. They took the crowd on a musical journey with lyrics and music written and developed over years, playing songs that have seen years of refinement to become the polished gems they are today. They delivered a treat off their new record including ‘Bandshirt’ with drum trills over guitar licks, followed by “an ohmage to songs you just f*cking love”, and ‘Jessie’s Amazing’. If Wes Anderson stopped making movies and started playing keys, that’s Turnstyle.

Setlist: Kampakar, Flank Attack, Plain & Simple, Masqueraders, Portamento, Bandshirt, Jessie’s Amazing, I’m a Bus, East 21^st, Spray Water, Robots Working, Cologne.

Finally it was time for the main course of this delicious meal, Shonen Knife, playing in Perth as the last leg of their Australia tour. They definitely chose to leave the best city until last as they burst onto the stage, a dynamic three-piece in brightly colored matching outfits (made by talented bass player Atsuko). As their guitars laid down the fast-paced riffs matching equally fast-paced drum fills, Shonen Knife got the crowd going with their coordinated headbanging, matched by the crowd in return.

They began the night with their beautifully bubbly pop-punk-rock ‘Konnichiwa’ (Japanese for hello), thanking the crowd for their presence. Shonen Knife were last in Perth in 2020 for the Perth Festival, playing AC/DC, reminiscing fondly of stage. The crowd couldn’t get enough of Shonen Knife and their pop-punk energy, it was like my ears had eaten sweet rock candy and it was popping inside my brain. Their synchronized movements, bopping along all the while never missing a beat and matching the energy of the audience was unreal to witness, and they did it the entire time with a smile on their face.

It was such a fun vibe, as the band introduced themselves to the crowd. Risa on drums said that she had a delicious steak from the Civic Hotel, Atsuko on bass guitar said that they love Perth because the people who come to their shows are always so happy and so nice. Naoko on guitar said that Perth was a special place to them because of AC/DC. Their love of their music, the passion they have in what they do, and their gratitude towards their audience shone through brightly throughout the entire set, unfalteringly. They are incredibly talented and versatile as a band, with all three singing on different songs and playing their instruments at the same time, a skill I can only dream about.

Shonen Knife have been making music together for over 40 years, and it was easy to see this come through in their polished and refined pop-punk tunes, some of which sounded similar to what you might hear in a video game like Mario or even Zelda. Their onstage presence was consistently energetic and pure dynamite as they pumped out the rest of the pop-punk set, with big smiles on their faces that didn’t falter once throughout the whole night. Shonen Knife ended the night with a colourful bang – a head-bang, of course!

Setlist: Konnichiwa, Banana Chips, Twist Barbie, Pop Tune, Concrete Animals, Ramen Rock, Cycling is Fun, Wasabi, MUJINTO Rock, Nice Day, Afternoon Tea, Bad Luck Song, Sweet Candy Power, E.S.P., Jump Into the New World, Buttercup (I’m a Super Girl), Riding on the Rocket, Antonio Baka Guy, Sushi Bar Song, Top of the World.

Many thanks to The Rockpit, Shonen Knife, Consume TOURism and Milkbar.

Photos by Shotweiler Photography

GALLERY
Shonen Knife