Redefining “international pop sensation,” Kero Kero Bonito challenges conformity through blurring the lines of punk rock and sugary electronic pop. The British band, along with opener Negative Gemini, sold out their first ever show in Minneapolis at the Fine Line. On Saturday night, the entrance of the Fine Line was crowded with an audience of all ages. The KKB show was highly anticipated by Radio K’ers and listeners alike after the release of their album “Time ‘n’ Place” made its way to the studio library. The beloved album filled our airwaves with playful, unique sounds that translated directly to the stage.

Negative Gemini kicked off the show with an electronica set, setting the tone for what was to come next. After they left the stage, the sea of glitter that was the crowd stirred with anticipation. The lights dimmed and Kero Kero Bonito band members started taking the stage, people started to cheer and surge to the front. Sarah Midori Perry, lead vocalist of KKB, was last to appear in her bulky silver puffer jacket. Approaching her keyboard, puffer jacket cloaking her face, she begins with the opening synth. Kero Kero Bonito opened with their song “Battle Lines,” starting with a heavy electronic beat that still maintained a cheery delivery.

After the first song, Perry removes her puffer to reveal a studded choker connected by a chain to her bracelets. A large part of the Kero Kero Bonito show was the fashion that Perry and fans used to express themselves. One fan even wore a pastel blue graduation gown, alluding to the album cover of “Bonito Generation.” Through their music, Kero Kero Bonito encourages an uplifting, rose tinted lens of the world. The band embraced the playful atmosphere, using stuffed animals as props and mixing the Harry Potter theme into the setlist. Sarah Midori Perry connected a pink phone telephone to her keyboard which she would sing lyrics into throughout the show.

In contrast to the cuteness, Kero Kero Bonito undoubtedly came to rock. The band relied less on pre-produced beats, but instead experimented with the combination of punk rock with electronic instrumentation. Kero Kero Bonito made use of the full band on stage while the audience moshed relentlessly. Fans went wild crowd surfing, and even throwing themselves off stage. The track that made everyone bounce, staying true to its name, was “Trampoline.” The encore and final song of Kero Kero Bonito for the night.

This was Kero Kero Bonito’s first show in Minneapolis, and I doubt this will be the last we get to experience this treasured British band. 

Written by Madeleine Melloy 
Photos by Eleanore Stevenson