Shonen Knife’s definition of themselves as “super-eccentric-pop-punk-cult-band-shonen-knife!” sums them up pretty nicely. Their newest album is called Super Group and shows a band that packs power and is, in all honesty, quite super. Their eccentricity is highlighted by lyrics whose topics range from bike riding to the wonders of banana chips. Their infectious melodies matched with their catchy and simplistic harmonies recall the best in pop music. Their energy and edge represents the same do-it-yourself punk rock attitude that originally brought them together.

Because of this eclectic mix of sounds, there has always been a mystique surrounding them, adding to their reputation as a cult band. They are Shonen Knife.

Founded in Osaka, Japan in 1981, Shonen Knife was an anomaly from the start. Not only were the group’s members all female, a rarity for any band at that time, let alone a Japanese band, but they rejected the well-tempered J-Pop aesthetic that was just starting to blossom there. Instead, they turned to the new, rough punk music that was just starting to gain momentum in the US and UK. From its start, Shonen Knife has had more in common with bands such as the Buzzcocks and the Ramones, even going as far as to sometimes perform as a tribute band appropriately enough called the Osaka Ramones.

However, they couldn’t stick with just a straight punk sound. Instead of the rebellious message that many punk bands of that era tried to send through their music, Shonen Knife emphasized positivity and an upbeat feeling that permeated their music, creating a unique style that was at once energizing and catchy. Packing more of a punch then one would expect from a pop act, Shonen Knife carved a niche for themselves that has defined their sound for decades.

Starting off by playing to crowds of 30 people and self-releasing albums on cassette, Shonen Knife has skyrocketed to prominence within alternative music. Their music has made it onto the soundtracks of popular television shows such as the Powerpuff Girls, and their cover of The Carpenter’s “Top of the World” was a highlight of the If I Were A Carpenter tribute album. More then that though, various music critics have credited them for making “the international pop underground more international.” Their own success has opened the door for many Japanese bands to follow them, creating a music market that is outside of the dominance of bands from the US and UK.

Due in part to their mixture of styles and their DIY approach to music, Shonen Knife has always been championed by important and influential musicians. While growing to prominence in the 1980s, the girls from Osaka shared the stage with American alternative stalwarts such as Sonic Youth and Fugazi. The granddaddy of the whole alternative music revolution, Nirvana, even asked them to open their UK tour before the release of Nevermind. More recently, Shonen Knife has been name dropped by artists as geographically and musically diverse as Australian garage rockers The Vines and the late Chicago-based schizophrenic Wesley Willis.

Shonen Knife will be joined on Saturday by a plethora of musical groups from across the northeast. First off, local punks The Berettas will kick off the show with their take on the same punk roots that Shonen Knife draws from. It’s quite similar except The Berettas have no girls, more distortion and shouting and significantly fewer lyrics about candy and small animals. So maybe there’s not that much similarity except for the whole “punk” moniker. Next up, Ithaca College’s Glad Rags will debut a new lineup that plays their signature take on gypsy punk music, complete with discordant horns and an accordion. Finally, Thunderhole will make the trek up from Massachusetts to play their mix of electronics, Game Boys and vocals reminiscent of Devo in the best sense possible.

Shonen Knife live in concert is not a thing to miss. The energy of their recording comes with them to the venue and will transform Appel Commons into a nightclub fit for any rock star. As St. Kurt Cobain once said, “When I finally got to see them live, I was transformed into a hysterical nine-year-old girl at a Beatles concert.” So grab your lollypop, put your hair into pigtails and get ready to be rocked by some of Japan’s finest.