https://www.facebook.com/events/1056507371223883/ Bands: Planet Booty, TWRP, Ninja Sex Party

In the Venn diagram of what bands, I and my long-term wife/girlfriend/full-time-responsibility like, there is very little overlap. As she describes, she is into “better than your shite” music. In the minuscule intersection between us, there are some bands we can both agree on: Ninja Sex Party is one. Probably the only one, actually. So pretty much instantly when they announced their first-ever European tour with British (and most importantly, Scottish) dates we pounced on it them like the back of our very own Markiplier-faced centaurs. Luckily we were able to score VIP tickets before the rather quickly required venue change due to high demand. (Sadly, by this point, we had booked a hotel right next to the old venue…) Not only did NSP manage to quickly sell out the Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh they went on to also sell out the Corn Exchange to the tune of around 3,000 people. We arrived early due to the girlfriend being anxious about literally everything and set out to queue until the pre-show VIP Q&A started.

Once we (she) had bought all the merch we (she) wanted, and the Q&A started. It was weird as hell hearing the voice of two people who we have been listening to over the internet for years, and this time they weren’t talking about dicks and butts… as much. It was an interesting, funny and very humble event, in which most of the audience directing most of the questions towards Ninja Brian (Brian Wecht) while Danny Sexbang looked shattered in his tie-dye Grateful Dead shirt clutching a coffee.

Once the rest of the horde of NSP fans were let into the massive hall of the Corn Exchange it was soon time for the warm-up act: Planet Booty. I think up to now I have actively avoided band with Booty in their name for obvious reasons, however this night, through “power of the booty” they dragged me the closest I’ve been to seeing pop music live in decades. On stage, the 3-piece act played a very funky style of electro-R&B/House that was raw in upfront beats and turbulent energy. Fairly entertaining if soft and non-threatening that is only slightly outside the radio-friendly realm on the merit of their lyrics and raw sexuality.

Fronted by Dylan Germick, dressed as extra sexy Freddie Mercury, this act proceeded to sing and dance provocatively to the wowed audience. A pretty funny and compelling front-man to watch for his antics. While backing singer Josh Cantero soulfully crooned out some impressive melodies. Although a very electronic-based act they thankfully had real instruments on stage too, frantically played by Rob Gwin a more than proficient drummer and musician. Overall they didn’t do a huge amount for me musically, but I can certainly get behind their energy and power to hype up the crowd for the following acts. [6/10] {7/10} (her score)

The room suitably warmed up, out came the next band: TWRP formally known as Tupperware Remix Party (Changed due to legal reasons). They are a band of interesting characters and talented musicians. Claiming to come from “The Future” and “The Eighties” and “Outer space” and “Canada”. But they might as come from the same spaceship that brought the world Daft Punk. As their style shares a lot of the aesthetics, but with 80% less synthetics and 100% more real instruments.

A rock-based version of the above is probably the best descriptor for TWRP‘s sound, as they produced some dance-able funky synth-pop/electro-fun that is dripping with skill and character. With each member in distinct costumes that made for a vibrant performance. From the lead singer/keyboardist Doctor Sung traffic cone headgear we got some vivid clean-sung vocals, via talkbox that tuned and distorted his voice so much at times that some of his words were unintelligible at times. While also entertaining us was an array of “atom splitting” karate kicks, pleasant keyboard riffs, and Nun-chuck tomfoolery.

The bass provided by lion-hybrid Commander Meouch was silky-smooth, providing extra funk to the keyboards lines, with his range of bouncing smacks and pops while being probably the most relatable member on stage. On the other side, guitar master Lord Phobos shredded out some very sweetly tasting licks, and at the back Robotic drummer, Havve Hogan kept this whole spacecraft running to his consistent and throbbing beat. Overall it was fun and very entertaining set that a set the balance right between humour, and musical craftsmanship. [7/10] {9/10}

With the crowd more than sufficiently hyped up and getting increasingly sweaty, it was soon time to witness Ninja Sex Party return to the stage after a brief animated intro setting a story-line to the night’s shenanigans. With a wild reception, the blasted into their first numbers, “Cool patrol” had the place in an uproar with the elements of the dance being replicated by the audience (including animal sounds). A great track that shows of their humour level! With the members of TWRP acting as their backing band I was great to see their songs given full backing instead of the sparse duo they had been in the past. With the next track, it seems to have quickly mockingly “falling apart” as Ninja Brian‘s love for Bloopy-Reggae Jams broke through and we were treated to an improvised rendition of the reggae classic “One love” before finally getting to a cover of “You Spin Me Round”.

After an off-stage and animated battle Danny Sexbang soon returned to the stage for another original track, the romantic (for NSP), ballad track “Heart Boner”, in this song it really showed of Danny‘s talents for his vocal were extra crisp here, as he belted out to the swaying sea of red mobile phone lights. Giving Dan the spotlight for a change as up to this point Brian‘s hilarious antics, mood swings, and personality were doing the most between the tracks, despite being a mute character.

Storming off stage in a huff, Brian left the stage just before the next track where they were to release the Kraken. With “totally not Ninja Brian” returning to stage as “the Kraken” in a silly hat, another fine, funny song. Previewing next was somewhat of snippet of their next record, (Cover album “Under the Covers Vol 3”) they went into “We Built This City” with gusto, a song that translates wonderfully into their style. Pushing next into the first NSP & TWRP collaboration track (See video above). A wonderful fusion that shows the love between these two bands!

Before we knew it though, it was time for the climax of the night (after the fight with a dinosaur, of course) with their famous track, “Danny Don’t You Know”, where Danny Sexbang discovers that his 14-year-old self is TV’s Finn Wolfhard. Shocking, I know. An emotional heartfelt song that means the world to Danny, his fans, and anyone who has ever been an awkward teenager (which is everyone).

Their set concluded with a strong, positive note, that left many people in want, as it seemed much shorter than it actually was, being so packed with fun! The songs they played were excellent but felt a little like they had to cut back. With more sexually charged numbers absent for (I’m guessing) taste with a newer audience reached. Some of the antics with the intro animation and mock fights felt a little bit childish (but really, who isn’t a bit childish inside), but they made it clever and added enough personality to the entire show to make it worthwhile. Overall this was a great night with tons of entertaining moments and super songs. With such a rare experience it’s often hard to get a full grip of what being witnessed, but all we know is that they need to come back and damn soon! (My girlfriend thinks I’m talking out my ass, and that they did everything right.) [8/10] {69/10}