Inspired by Sixties girl groups and punk bands like the Ramones, sisters Naoko and Atsuko Yamano formed Osaka, Japan pop-punk trio Shonen Knife in 1981. Soon after, they gained a cult following through songs about candy, animals, food, and more.

 

The band opened for Sonic Youth at home in 1987, and then in America alongside Redd Kross. There was even a Shonen Knife tribute album in 1991. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was an unabashed fan, taking the ladies on the road on a European tour before Nevermind arrived. Shonen Knife made regular appearances at such U.S. festivals as Lollapalooza, All Tomorrow's Parties and Riot Fest.

 

Last month, Shonen Knife put out a re-recording of 1992 album Let's Knife via Good Charamel Records. Label owner Robbie Takac, bassist for the Goo Goo Dolls, executive produced it. The original album was a re-recording of past songs with new English lyrics.

 

Let's Knife had been unavailable on streaming services and physical editions were out of print, so Naoko (vocals, guitar) and Atsuko (bass, vocals, drums, percussion) Yamano and Risa Kawano (drums, vocals, keyboards, percussion) to faithfully re-recorded fun songs like "Bear Up Bison," "Twist Barbie," "Flying Jelly Attack," "Cycling is Fun," "I am a Cat," "Insect Collector" and more with a modern production. 

 

Shonen Knife performs with Colin Hay's Men at Work and Toad the Wet Sprocket at the United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles on Aug. 20. More info: theunitedtheater.com, axs.com