Shonen Knife at Maxwell's (08-15-1991)

On August 15th, 1991, Shonen Knife played at Maxwell’s! The Japanese trio formed in 1981 in Osaka and steadily built up a solid following in their home country following the 1983 release of their debut album, Burning Farm. Two years later, Olympia label K Records re-issued the album in the United States, and the band subsequently released their third album, Pretty Little Baka Guy, on Subversive Records.

1991 proved to be a huge year for the band, as after releasing a self-titled compilation album comprising tracks from their first two albums, the trio d released their fourth album 712 on July 1, 1991 in Japan on Nippon Crown. Just after this show at Maxwell’s, Pretty Little Baka Guy was re-released in the US in September of 1991. The 1991 US re-release of the album was coupled with eight live recordings from 1982 and 1990. In 1991, Kurt Cobain saw them play in LA and had come to deeply enjoy their music: "When I finally got to see them live, I was transformed into a hysterical nine-year-old girl at a Beatles concert." Nirvana asked Shonen Knife to serve as the opening act for their UK tour in late 1991, just prior to the release of their breakthrough album, Nevermind. Shonen Knife remains active. They released their 19th album, Sweet Candy Power, in 2019!