It has been over six years since I last saw Ninja Sex Party on tour, mostly because this is their first time playing PA or NJ since 2018. For the uninitiated, Ninja Sex Party is the biggest comedy band in America and has been for years largely due to “Weird Al” Yankovic not releasing an original album since 2014. They maintain this with consistent and regular output. The band’s lead singer, Danny Sexbang (real name Dan Avidan,) is the lead singer of five bands concurrently. He releases at least one album a year, but usually two as of late. Ninja Sex Party is my favorite band, with Dan Avidan being my favorite vocalist of all time. I have every song commercially released with his vocals on them and a few that never were. I maintain I am Ninja Sex Party’s biggest fan.
They rocked Philly at the Franklin Music Hall on Saturday, March 29th. TWRP, or Tupper Ware Remix Party until that company got angry at them, Ninja Sex Party’s backing band since their fourth album, opened the show. They are Doctor Sung on lead vocals and the synthesizer, Haave Hogan on drums, Lord Phobos on guitar, and Commander Meouch on bass. They’re an electro funk rock band from Canada who wear full costumes in all public appearances and have never released their real identities. They sang, in order, “Content 4 U,” “Bright Blue Sky,” “Typhoon Turnpike,” “Hidden Potential,” “Atomic Karate,” “Synthesize Her,” “Polygon,” “VHS,” “Phantom Racer,” and “A Human’s Touch.” I have every album TWRP has released on iTunes and most of their early stuff, including the album before their real breakthrough, which involved Ninja Sex Party’s first collaboration with them, “The Hit.” My favorite song of theirs is “Phantom Racer,” which has featured vocals from The Protomen and Arin Hanson, Danny’s co-host on Game Grumps. Seeing that live, with Doctor Sung singing and saying all the parts from those featured vocalists was amazing. Their set has changed dramatically since I first saw them in 2018, mostly because they’ve released many albums since then. There is no substitute for seeing them live. Truly wonderful showmanship. But I’m not here to talk about them.
Once Danny and Ninja Brian took the stage, they sang, in order, “Get Ready (To Get Ready),” “Cool Patrol,” “Welcome to My Parent’s House,” “The Hit,” “Seatbelts!”, “I Own a Car,” “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record),” “Heart Boner,” “Orgy for One,” “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “6969,” as well as two encores, “Starlight Brigade” and “Danny Don’t You Know.” There are the ol’ reliables’ that NSP seems to play at every show, but they also did two songs I won’t spoil here, a song by Korn and another by The Cars. The next album Danny is releasing is his third acoustic covers album with the Super Guitar Bros. But Ninja Sex Party is releasing their fourth covers album sometime this fall. A cover heavy year but I have been waiting for that fourth cover album for quite awhile. The third one came out in 2019. Danny has released nine albums since then and ten by the time that will come out. The dude is prolific. Seeing “6969,” their first longform song, live was amazing. I didn’t expect my favorite song of theirs, “Dick Figures: The Movie: The Song,” but I would have loved “The Mystic Crystal,” their longest song to date. Apparently, until this tour, they had never performed “6969” live, so, baby steps. I was literally wearing the T-shirt for “The Mystic Crystal” at the show.
I shouted myself hoarse and had burning thighs for two days after the show from standing for like five hours straight (I waited in line about 50 minutes before the doors even opened an hour before the show) and jumping and dancing around like a total maniac during the entire show. This is likely the best concert experience I have ever had, all apologies to “Weird Al” Yankovic. A throng of standing room only super fans all keyed up to eleven is hard to top. If you can deal with the crowds and not being able to sit for a long time, you shouldn’t miss it. My ticket, even with fees, was less than $90. You won’t have a better time on your feet for that price.
Their Pure Elegance tour continues through June 20th. See them if you love having your face rocked off.
