On Tuesday October 21, 2025 I headed over to the Hopmonk Novato in Novato, California. The event of the night was a repeat of the Shonen Knife, Everyone Happy US tour with The Pack A.D. Almost. Shonen Knife played a slightly different set from the other night and things were fabulous.
The Pack A.D. were the first band to take the stage. Hailing from Victoria, B.C., this duo delivered an incredible sound that captivated the audience. They opened with “Cellophane”, a tune that immediately grabbed our attention and held it with an inviting energy. Following that was “Los Angeles”, another standout track that resonates with me and many others in the crowd.
Next, they played a mellower song titled “It’s Okay”, which offered just the right vibe, delivered with effortless style. They then upped the tempo with “Haunt You”, and the audience was right there with them, fully engaged. Transitioning into a slower track called “Everyone Rocks”, they introduced a riff that truly rocked our socks off.
Their set continued with “Dollhouse”, “Animal”, and “Wolves & Werewolves”, three songs that maintained a mellow groove, with the last track picking up the pace a bit. They then performed a blues song from their previous band, absolutely nailing it. “Cobra Matte” followed, bringing back an upbeat tempo that had the crowd fully energized as they shredded through the performance.
The next song, “Sirens”, was stunning and led us to the finale, “Yes I Know”. This track had everyone rocking out, providing an excellent way to conclude their set. As the song ended, the crowd erupted in cheers, clearly wanting more. Just like that, their performance was over, leaving many of us wanting to experience it again.
Follow The Pack A.D. band members on social media
Becky Black – vocals, guitar
Maya Miller – vocals, drums
Setlist
1). Cellophane
2). Los Angeles
3). It’s Okay
4). Haunt You
5). Everyone Rocks
6). Dollhouse
7). Animal
8). Wolves & Werewolves
9). Cobra Matte
10). Sirens
11). Yes I Know
Shonen Knife was up next, and they were the fiery all-Japanese band we had all been waiting for. Headlining their first US tour in six years, they were excited to be back. Instead of winding down, they were ramping up for the final few shows of the Everyone Happy U.S. tour. They opened with “Lazybone”, which had the entire crowd energized. The next song was “Twist Barbie”, a fun track, even though the lyrics were mostly in Japanese. Despite the language barrier, their relentless beats and fiery guitar and bass performances captivated everyone.
They followed up with “Bear Up Bison” and “Jump Into the New World”, both of which were fantastic as they jammed through them. The next three songs were “MUJINTO Rock”, “Vamos Taquitos”, and “Afternoon Tea”. All three tracks from their new album, *Our Best Place*, were stellar, as the crowd wholeheartedly agreed. “Cookie Day”, a personal favorite of mine, was next, and they rocked it hard. Following that was “Ghost Train”, which showcased fantastic vocals as they cruised through the song.
“I Am a Cat” was up next, with Atsuko delivering a tremendous performance. The crowd loved the following two songs, “Miracles” and “Concrete Animals”. Fun fact: “Miracles” was initially released in 1982 on a cassette tape, with only about 40 copies made available to the public. Naoko had two cassette decks, and dubbing them was a chore, so she eventually gave up. Now that the album is finally out, we could all enjoy it together.
Next, Atsuko sang “Wasabi,” which was an excellent song that got us all singing along with the lyrics we could decipher. Following her performance, Risa took the stage to sing “Green Tea”, delivering a stunning vocal performance while expertly handling the drums. It was fantastic! When they started “Sweet Candy Power”, the entire audience joined in. Whenever they sang “Amai Amai Amai” (which means sweet), we were prompted to shout “CANDY!” It was a massive hit for both the band and the crowd.
After that, they played “E.S.P.” followed by “Banana Chips”, a fun song with a playful theme. The set concluded with “Riding on the Rocket”, a fantastic track. Although this was meant to be the last song, the crowd’s enthusiasm prompted the band to return to the stage in their tour shirts. They played two more songs: a Ramones cover of “Gabba Gabba Hey”, which they did a mighty fine job of, and “Burning Farm”. Both performances were stellar and made for an incredible show.
Follow Shonen Knife band members on social media
Naoko Yamano – lead and backing vocals, guitar
Atsuko Yamano – lead and backing vocals, bass
Risa Kawano – lead and backing vocals, drums
Setlist
1). Lazybone
2). Twist Barbie
3). Bear Up Bison
4). Jump Into the New World
5). MUJINTO Rock
6). Vamos Taquitos
7). Afternoon Tea
8). Cookie Day
9). Ghost Train
10). I Am a Cat (sung by Atsuko)
11). Miracles (Sung in English and Japanese)
12). Concrete Animals
13). Wasabi (Sung by Atsuko)
14). Green Tea (Sung by Risa)
15). Sweet Candy Power
16). E.S.P.
17). Banana Chips
18). Riding On the Rocket
Encore
19). Gabba Gabba Hey (The Ramones cover)
20). Burning Farm
Follow The Pack A.D. on social media
Follow Shonen Knife on social media