SLCene Suggests: Shonen Knife and Big Freedia at The Urban Lounge

SHONEN KNIFE at 7 p.m., BIG FREEDIA at 9 p.m., THE URBAN LOUNGE, Wednesday, Oct. 15, $14 each show

Talk about your epic nights at The Urban Lounge. Two headlining gigs in one evening, two acts totally different from the other, yet both easily worth checking out.

The night starts with Shonen Knife, the Japanese punk trio who are rumored to be on their final tour. They’ve been together for more than 30 years, evoking classic ’60s girl-pop, surf-rock and old-school punk in their sound. They had a little bit of mainstream success when alt-rock blew up in the early ’90s, but for the most part they’ve toiled away like most indie and punk crews, knocking out fine albums heard by frustratingly few people, and touring like crazy. Consider this chance to see them at a rare early show at Urban a must-see.

Later on, it’s the unforgettable Big Freedia, master of the so-called “bounce” music scene out of New Orleans. If you ever want to see where Miley ripped off her twerking moves, catch this host of his own Fuse TV show, Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce. The show tracks his moves into mainstream culture and his hometown. I didn’t know much about Big Freedia until I saw him and his dancers perform earlier this year at a festival, and it’s a big, loud, bass-heavy, crazy scene that has to be seen to be believed. It’s also a total blast.