After 36 years, Osaka's pop punk queens SHONEN KNIFE are yet again hitting the US highways, this time combining their love for high-energy punk with their adoration for a masterly crafted bowl of Ramen. The 2017 USA Ramen Adventure Tour comes on the heels of their newest album ADVENTURE (2016) but is also riding the wave of the aforementioned noodle dish's increasing popularity in the states. As the western world is finding out, Ramen is much more than the instant noodles and salty dust packets currently fueling college students. A properly made bowl takes time and thoughtfulness to craft (Check out frontwoman Naoko Yamano's personal favorite Ramen recipe below!). 

Photo Credit: Vicente Rondon

"Ramen is so tasty and a very creative food." Says Naoko, "It consists of noodles and soup. Very simple, but it is deep and complex in flavor. Each Ramen restaurant has their own recipe with a different and unique flavor. That’s why it is growing in popularity in the US. Plus, the price is reasonable and it’s easy and quick food to eat!"

The 2017 USA Ramen Adventure Tour is not just an empty theme, by the way. The band will spend their pre and post show hours sampling Ramen from all over the US and documenting their journey online while pairing with local Japanese restaurants to promote their shows and local Japanese cuisine in each market.

This is also not the band's first nosedive into the world of food. Over the course of their legendary career, the band has released dozens of songs for their foodie fans, from the sweet "Banana Chips" and "Strawberry Cream Puff" to the savory "Sushi Bar Song" and crowd favorite "Wasabi". When talking to OC Weekly, Naoko explained the passion for their brand of chow related lyricism, "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. I want people to be happy through our music. That's why I write songs about our favorite things, like food or animals."

While Japanese culture has seen growing interest in the Western World, Shonen Knife has enjoyed sharing their ever-evolving career for decades, touring the world with rock royalty such as Nirvana, Sonic Youth, BMX Bandits and Redd Kross. The band still receives rave reviews from outlets like Stereogum, "Shonen Knife to remain one of the only bands around that is able to fully encompass both the cuteness and keen-ness after which they were named." and Noisey, "They might be celebrating their 35th anniversary this year, but Japan’s Shonen Knife certainly aren’t acting their age... Full of shimmering girl group melodies and immediately hummable guitar lines, 'Jump Into The New World' will make you leave you bummers behind"

INGREDIENTS:

A portion of ramen noodles

Shredded leek

1 boiled egg

A few slices of Chinese style roasted pork

Soup powder

Soy sauce

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put 2 teaspoons of soup powder and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce in 400cc boiled water
2. Put a portion of ramen noodles in it for 1 or 2 min
3. Move to a ramen bowl
4. Topped with shredded leek, boiled egg, roasted pork and some pepper

With incendiary and icon-building appearances on Lollapalooza, MTV’s 120 Minutes, Beavis & Butthead as well as a well-received tribute to The Carpenters where they covered "Top of the World", Shonen Knife have secured their rock solid cult status as they march into the future. Check out tour dates below!