The Ding Dong lounge was nearly full and the first support band was almost done... A couple of guys from Spain with keyboards and a drum kit. The crowd seemed to really love their unorthodox approach to their music. The second support band were a straight up grunge band with lots of fuzz and plenty of punchy bass lines. The photographers were having a field day. They were there in numbers at the front of the stage moving around to get in position for the best shot possible of the singer adjusting her pedals... of the singer belting out some power chords on her guitar... and the singer singing songs. Shonen Knife were next on the bill and, like the support bands, they came to the stage and set up their own gear and then left so that they could make a proper entrance. This they did holding their Shonen Knife scarves up high. The crowd gave a big cheer, and then they settled down for the opening number 'Konnichiwa'. The band played a number of old songs including, 'Twist barbie', 'Banana Chips' and 'Pop Tune' before singer Naoko announced that they would play some material off their new CD Overdrive which was inspired by 70s British hard rock. The crowd cheered and the photographers started snapping shots of the band as they posed with their instruments.
"Japanese pedals are very bad" said Naoko at one point as she had some trouble with her equipment. One of the roadies came on stage and gaffer taped the electrical board. Emi the drummer sang the next song which was about green tea. "'Green Tea' she said afterwards, "I like green tea... I like Australian wine" she added. She waved her drum sticks high in the air.
The crowd cheered.
"We will be playing again tomorrow night at 3 JJJs hottest one hundred" Naoko announced. "Please come and see us again. It is free."
The crowd cheered again. Naoko had a lot of fun playing her one note solos on the guitar and fiddling with her pedals as the crowd danced and sang along. "We like Melbourne. We like the Melbourne restaurants" she said. "Now our bass player Ritsuko will sing a song about her favourite food called ramen. This song is called 'Ramen Rock'."
The crowd cheered and then the band followed up with some heavy riffing on 'Antonio Baka Guy'. There were some girls dancing in front of the stage and singing along to the words of 'Like a Cat' so the bass player came over and played along with them. The photographers had left the front of the stage area to presumable go and photograph some other bands somewhere else. To wind up the show after 'E.S.P. 'there was a one song encore.
"Are there any requests?" asked Naoko.
Standing in front of the stage a punter called out for 'Tortoise Brown'. She put her ear towards him and he said, "'Tortoise Brown' ."
She turned to the audience and asked, "Are there any more requests?"
"'Deer Biscuits'" the guy behind him called out
The crowd were asked to vote for their favourite song but then the band decided to play the old Carpenters song 'On Top of the World' anyway. After the song they held up their scarves again and announced that they would be signing autographs over by the mixing desk afterwards. There was quite a crowd gathered around the mixing desk. Out in the front bar more punters were gathering for the dance party that would go until dawn. Shonen Knife would continue on their merry way, all part of the elaborate joke that Kurt Cobain had enjoyed so much!!!
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