For a band that’s released songs about strawberry cream puff and wasabi, dedicating an entire tour to bowls of noodley goodness was the obvious next choice, right? Legendary Osaka pop-punk trio Shonen Knife seems to think so.
DO THIS: SHONEN KNIFE W/EMPIRE CINEMA ORPHEUM 05.06.17The band has themed its lyricism around its favorite eats dozens of times and is bringing a 2017 “U.S. Ramen Adventure Tour” to Ybor City’s Orpheum on May 6. But it also plans to spend time — before and after shows — chowing down on ramen around the country. Shonen Knife documents tasty findings online and also joins forces with local Japanese restaurants to promote gigs and each tour stop’s Japanese dining options.
“[Ramen] consists of noodles and soup. Very simple, but it is deep and complex in flavor,” frontwoman Naoko Yamano said. “Each ramen restaurant has their own recipe with a different and unique flavor. That’s why it is growing in popularity in the U.S. Plus, the price is reasonable and it’s easy and quick food to eat!”
If that wasn’t enough, let us remind you that the current version band — which also includes Michie Nakatani on bass which presently includes drummer Risa Kawano and bassist Atsuko Yamano — has been at it since 1983 when its debut album Burning Farm birthed a cult like following attracted to Shonen Knife’s charming brand of rock, which paid tribute to the Beatles, Beach Boys and Ramones all at the very same time. This tour is in support of Shonen Knife’s 20th studio LP (Adventure, released last year) and celebrates 36 years of unabashed originality for the band.
“I’d like to be different from other bands. Doing [things] different is rock, isn’t it? I don’t want to write negative songs because if people listen to such songs, they must be sad,” Naoko told OC Weekly. “I want people to be happy through our music. That’s why I write songs about our favorite things, like food or animals.”
Learn to pull off Naoko’s easy-to-make ramen recipe, featured below along side that aforementioned debut LP. See them on May 6 at Orpheum (1915 E. 7th Ave, Ybor City). Doors are at 7 p.m. and tickets are $18-$23. More information is available via local.cltampa.com.
Naoko’s Bowl of Healthy Simple Ramen
Ingredients
A portion of ramen noodlesShredded leek1 boiled eggA few slices of Chinese-style roasted porkSoup powderSoy sauce
Directions
Put 2 teaspoons of soup powder and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce in 400cc (or about 1 1/2 cups) boiled water. Put a portion of ramen noodles in it for 1 or 2 minutes. Move to a ramen bowl. Top with shredded leek, boiled egg, roasted pork and some pepper.
**A previous version of this story featured an old lineup.
\\This article appears in May 4-11, 2017.
