The problem with America is that people eat because they’re terribly depressed. In Japan, on the other hand, all girl pop punk bands eat because they LOVE FOOD. Enter Shonen Knife, the amazingly happy, supremely catchy and ultimately badass rockers from Osaka. They were Japan’s Ramones in the 80s and now they’re touring North America in support of a brand new record, Super Group, being released on Charamel Records. Read this talk with their new bassist:

J-Pop World: What about Shonen Knife’s music attracted you the most?
Ritsuko: Shonen Knife’s melody lines are great like the Beatles and their chorus work is very cute like the Supremes. And they are Punk Rock like the Ramones. These attracted me.
JPW: What does playing music mean to you?
Ritsuko: I can’t realize. Playing music is an exciting thing like eating a giant cake during my whole life.
-
here’s their new single live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoAIW_GL8mU

Also playing are Thunderhole, a trio from Massachusetts with cool angular guitar synth duels and scratchy 8 bit gameboys. Think of it as black .wav.

We’re not done yet - sit down and read with your eyes. Glad Rags, Ithaca College’s one and only gypsy punk collective, are opening with their brand new 4 piece. It’s kind of like when Bob Dylan went electric, except if Bob Dylan had been playing drums with his feet before then, and if he had a cooler voice. And an accordion, and if he wasn’t an asshole, so not like Bob Dylan.

Still! More! Local punks The Berettas are here! Probably going to start one of those new-fangled circular skank pits that the kids are going crazy over these days. Can’t wait.

See you there for $5. Want to make sure you get a ticket? Click here to get your presale ticket. They’re selling like hotcakes.

It’s being held at Appel Commons on Cornell’s campus. Lots of parking behind. Doors open at 8 pm!