I'm kinda pissed there aren't any reviews for Sunday's Ninja Sex Party show at the Astor. So fuck you, here's mine.
I went into the Q&A after spending more for a ticket just to see Danny (if you're that big a fan of the band I'm sure you'd have gotten a ticket for this portion of the show - I know the money was steep but this was the first time I've paid more for a higher tier ticket and actually felt like I got my money's worth and then some). And I could've asked questions but I felt like the other fans should've had more of a chance. They had them prepared and I didn't and they were diehard fans so it's only fair. It's my policy at these things to let the bigger fans have their moments even if I think they're being jerks. I knew we weren't getting a full M&G since we received a signed poster (mine got a little trashed as I was using it as a rhythm stick/megaphone - and I almost left it behind where I got food sooo... ) But they were gracious and tried to pay the most attention to everyone, and gave us an hour so it was generous. Plus I was too choked up seeing Danny in person to speak anyway.
Side note, I am a Game Grumps fan first. But I was always a Last Unicorn fan, and them doing a cover of the theme made me love them more. Via the covers I finally got into their original albums, and I'm glad I gave myself a crash course in the last few months, and their songs are memorable so it's not like I was struggling to sing along. I felt bad I hadn't realised Tupperware Remix Party would be doing a set of their own (which makes total sense considering they've come 22 hours to perform) and my God did they kick a lot of ass for a Canadian comedy band in nutso disguises, nunchucks and scissor kicks included. I'd love to know if they've heard of TISM, since they were a joyous mashup of that band and Daft Punk. A lot of jokes and synth, and the songs were just so catchy I didn't care I didn't know them. They got a lot of love and I wasn't disappointed about the wait, I was more astonished they were going to be on stage over half an hour longer and still had enough energy to keep up until the encore where they closed with another of their collabs with NSP.
I got way more than I expected out of NSP once Danny and Brian were on stage. We were treated to a full animated intro with ongoing story including a dinosaur (the remainder of the suit was stopped by our shitty customs officials so I hope they released it before tonight since they're just done with their Sydney show) from outer space come to wreck the show, and we all got to yell hysterically at it to kill it, that was cool. Ninja Brian* stuck a guy's shoe down his pants, massaged it lovingly against his groin and threw it back after the crowd failed to get Danny to drink out of it. (did it again with the same guy's other shoe later on). TWRP's unique brand of humour slotted in perfectly with NSP's, you can see why they're happy to perform together live. It was a show about acceptance and love, and the crowd was surprisingly into it (for the most part - a couple of kids were complaining of headaches from all the shouting. I was doing a lot of shouting, I'd been on my feet most of the afternoon and I was sweating bullets and loved every fucking minute of it.) The braver comrades danced it out to Cool Patrol even with the people behind them unwilling to humiliate themselves. (sidebar here, I was surrounded by young guys, two either side of me who were so fucking into it I could happily have my own dance party and a: not feel ashamed and b: not't have to worry about being felt up. I'm a girl who goes to shows alone and even when I was hit on it was still very tame). Everyone was respectful and cool, but we were all too cool to talk to one another later I guess. The energy was kinda sucked out of the place once the band were offstage). Someone had mentioned they might do a cover of "Land Down Under" by Men at Work (who were subsequently sued for ripping off "Kookaburra sits in the old Gum Tree" so I was wondering if they could get away with it) and I shuddered to think it, but their rendition, like so many of their covers, was actually good and they killed it. Danny knew it well so it wasn't like he was struggling with it either. So I was cool with it in the end. Yes, a band with a Jewish superhero, an American Ninja and four Canadians in full spandex costumes made me patriotic for five minutes that night - a grand fucking achievement I might say.
But the mix was tight as fuck, they sounded just as good live. Danny can sing like a motherfuckin' angel and he even got us to do the harmonies for Heart Boner, which was glorious. TWRPs guitar solos were phenomenal and Brian's an excellent, professional keyboardist. Even with the mask you could tell he was having a fuckin' ball. They even busted out Release the Kraken, complete with animated video and Brian with a dumb squid on his head, playing the titular Kraken.
I had a horrible suspicion we'd get a small, lukewarm crowd with pockets of fans having their own little dance parties while the majority of the crowd just stood there, which is how most They Might Be Giants shows begin, however they pick up steam by the end. The steam was there the whole time for NSP and TWRP, I had too much fun to be shitty about being on my feet, I just wish I'd tried to get closer than I did. Honestly, if I'd paid 200 bucks for this I still wouldn't have felt ripped off. I do know it's so hard for people to get to shows but the general admit tickets were still sadly less than other bands and festivals on right now. Now I'm just waiting for Danny to get back and tell everyone how well it went. There was a promise they'd come back.
I don't think you can say this very often that you went to a show hoping the band had a better time than you and got everything they wanted out of the night, and that your enjoyment was just a bonus. YouTube celebs are in a different category, they don't have publicists and agents keeping you from having a relationship with them, they're aware of how important the fans are since they genuinely got them there, it wasn't just the money it was the undying support, and we had an NSP army over here, as it turns out. So fucking kudos to you, Perth. For once you did not disappoint. I only felt sorry for anyone who lived near the Astor - we were loud as fuck. There were rowdy pockets that probably got overexcited but honestly, I get it. You're wigging out and you paid to have fun, and freak flags could fly millennial-style. It was rad. I wish some jaded rock reviewer had been there now and had been blown away after going in with no understanding or limited expectations of TWRP and NSP and gone, holy shit, that's how you do a rock concert. And if anyone thought Danny's smiling hadn't been genuine, then you don't know him, and you don't know NSP.
A+++ show and will definitely go next time.
*I got off the bus right when Brian was heading in the opposite direction. He saw my Last Unicorn shirt and had a slight smile on his face, I gave him a glance as I passed and let him go on, not entirely sure it was him until the Q&A since I recognised his shirt. Let a ninja have his day out, kids. I know they like to go out and not be noticed. It's all good.
