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Ninja Sex Party

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Ninja Sex Party
Avidan (left) and Wecht performing in 2019, with TWRP drummer Havve Hogan in the background
Avidan (left) and Wecht performing in 2019, withTWRPdrummer Havve Hogan in the background
Background information
Also known asNSP
OriginNew York City, U.S.
Genres
Years active2009–present
SpinoffsStarbomb
Members
Websiteninjasexparty

Ninja Sex Party(often abbreviated asNSP) is an Americanmusical comedyduo consisting of singerDan Avidanand keyboardistBrian Wecht.[2]They formed in 2009 in New York City and are currently based in Los Angeles. They are also known as two thirds of the more rap-based musical trioStarbomb,together with frequent collaboratorArin Hanson.

The work of Ninja Sex Party typically consists ofrockorsynth-pop-oriented humorous songs, frequently on the topics of sex, seduction, love or fantasy, with Avidan and Wecht respectively portraying the characters of Danny Sexbang; an idiotic, exuberant,hypersexualJewish man who constantly yet unsuccessfully tries to hit on women, and Ninja Brian; a non-verbal, extremely homicidal ninja with whom Danny is best friends. However, theirUnder the Coverscover albumseries that began in 2016 saw them take on a non-comedic approach to music for the first time, covering various songs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

To date, NSPhas releasednine studio albums (six consisting of original material, and three cover albums), in addition to three albums as a part of Starbomb. Wecht initially acted as record producer and performed all instrumentation on their early albums, until they started working with producer Jim Arsenault (and laterJim Roach) andbacking bandTWRPin 2015. Wecht and Avidan have appeared in TWRP's own works, either as individuals or as Ninja Sex Party. Since May 2018, Wecht also portrays Ninja Brian on his own live comedy show titledNinja Brian's All-Star Variety Luau Spectacular.Every non-cover album that the group has released has reached #1 on theComedy Albumschart, and their highest peaking album on theBillboard200 chart was #17 despite being independent.

Career

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Formation and early career (2009–2012)

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Avidan performing with his previous band Skyhill in 2008

Avidan, who previously sang in bands such as The Northern Hues and Skyhill, initially conceptualized the band.[3]In need of a band member, Avidan was introduced to Wecht, who was the musical director of a comedy troupe in New York,[4]by a mutual friend at theUpright Citizens Brigade Theatre,Julie Katz, a member of Wecht's comedy troupe (who would later be featured in their music video "The Decision" ), to whom Avidan had asked if she knew any musicians.[5][6]The band was formed in February/March 2009[7]with Avidan going by his stage-name/character "Danny Sexbang" and Wecht going by "Ninja Brian".[6]However, the character "Danny Sexbang" was originally named "Danny Sweetnuts" before being changed to "Sexbang" as Avidan felt the name seemed "stronger."[8]

Inspired byThe Lonely IslandandFlight of the Conchords,Ninja Sex Party was about "a Jewish superhero who wears a unitard, with his best friend who's a ninja, and together they sing songs about dicks, and try to hit [unsuccessfully] on women."[5]

They began performing together that summer, appearing in various film festivals, includingSXSW,Dragon Con,and theLACS.[9][10][11]They were awarded the "Trophy of Awesomeness" onVimeo's video website.[12]They won "Best Comedy Video Short" and "Best Comedy Song" in Improvisation News' 2010 INNY Awards.[13]Their video "Sex Training" also appeared on the Comedy page ofThe Huffington Post.[14]All their early music videos were directed, shot, and edited by Jim Turner, who was the only person paid for his involvement; all other people participating were friends working for free.[6]

In 2011, they released their first albumNSFW,[15]oniTunes,which contained both original songs, and all of their previously released songs on YouTube.

Filming of the music video for "Next to You" in 2012

Commercial success and side projects (2013–2015)

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The band released their second album,Strawberries and Cream,in April 2013. On the week of May 4, 2013, the album debuted at #9 onBillboard's Comedy Albums charts.[16]

In July the band released the single "Party of Three", off their third album. The song featured an appearance by animator and Internet personalityArin Hanson.

In September 2013, the band composed "Dick Figures: The Movie: The Song" forMondo Media'sDick Figures: The Moviesoundtrack.[17]

In late 2013, Avidan, Wecht, and Hanson teamed up to create a side project band namedStarbomb,with Avidan as the lead singer-songwriter.[18]The band writesparodysongs about video games, bringing together the sexually provocative music stylings of Ninja Sex Party and the video game-based humor of Hanson.

On the week of February 15, 2014,Starbomb,the group's eponymous album, would hold the #1 spot inComedy Albumsfor 4 consecutive weeks.[19]Starbombalso reached #1 on theBillboardTop Heatseekerscharts for 2 consecutive weeks, starting with the week of January 4, 2014.[20]In July 2014, Ninja Sex Party performed a concert forSan Diego Comic-ConatPetco Park.They also released the music video for "Why I Cry" during the concert.[21][22]

TWRP(from left to right: band members Doctor Sung, Commander Meouch and Lord Phobos) became Ninja Sex Party'sbackup bandin 2015.

In 2015, two singles were released by the bandTWRP,collaborating with Ninja Sex Party, titled "The Hit"and"Baby, NYC";from that point on, TWRP became NSP's backing band on both live shows and studio releases, while also serving as theiropening acton live shows.[23][24]

Their third album,Attitude City,released on July 17, 2015. It was one of the top 20 best-selling albums onAmazon,and peaked at #1 onBillboard's USComedy Albumschart.[25]

On August 3, 2015, Ninja Sex Party performed withSteel Pantherat theirHouse of Bluesvenue, singing "Party All Day."[26]The bands have collaborated on multiple occasions, with Steel Panther making a cameo in the band's "Road Trip" music video, singerMichael Starrproviding vocals for "6969",andSatchelperforming guitars on "Limelight".[27][28]

On October 7, 2015, Avidan released the single "Firefly" with Peter Lennox.[29]The two had previously worked together as the atmospheric band Skyhill from 2006 to 2007.[30]

Under the Coversalbums andCool Patrol(2016–2019)

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On February 23, 2016, a music video was released for their cover of "Take On Me";the video for their cover of"Everybody Wants to Rule the World"was released one week later, on March 1, 2016. On March 4, 2016,Under the Coverswas released to the public. The album features guests appearances by TWRP and Super Guitar Bros.[31]The album debuted on theBillboardcharts at #9 inTop Album Sales,#2 inIndependent Albums,#3 inRock Albums,and #17 in theTop 200 Albums.[32][33][34][35]

Ninja Sex Party performing inDallasin August 2018, as a part of their "Tour de Force" tour.

In 2017, they released their second cover album,Under the Covers, Vol. II.[36]

In May 2018, Wecht debutedNinja Brian's All-Star Variety Luau Spectacular,his own recurring live musical comedy show in which he portrays his Ninja Brian character, minus Avidan.[37]The band also started a new tour, titled Tour de Force, concurrently with the release of the new album.[38]

On June 25, 2018, the band released the music video for the song "Danny Don't You Know",along with the official release date ofCool Patrol,August 17. The video featured actorFinn Wolfhard,a friend of Avidan since he had appeared onGame Grumpsin January 2017 and a fan of the band, as a younger Danny Sexbang.[39]The band called "Danny Don't You Know" their "favorite-ever song", both musically and as a video.[40]Cool Patrolwas released on August 17, 2018, and reached #1 on theBillboardTop Comedy Albums chart.[41]

In August 2018, Avidan and Wecht hosted an AMA onRedditwhere Avidan confirmed that "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"byBlue Öyster Cult,"Sledgehammer"byPeter Gabriel,"Glory of Love"byPeter Cetera,and "Down Under"byMen at Workwould appear onUnder the Covers, Vol. III.The duo then went on to tellRIFF Magazinethat the album would also include covers of songs byRush,Def Leppard,theBee Gees,andMichael Jackson.[42]

On September 17, 2018, Ninja Sex Party, along with TWRP, performed a censored version of "Danny Don't You Know" on thelate-night talk showConanas a musical guest, making their live television debut.[43][44]This censored version, which replaced the word "fuck" with "heck" and "hell," was released onSpotifyon September 21 under the title "Danny Don't You Know (Cool as Heck Version)".[45]

In December 2018, the band was selected by Billboard as the #1 Comedy Album Artist of the year, withCool Patrolbeing selected as the #1 comedy album of the year.[46][47]

On August 1, 2019, German YouTube personality and musicianFlula Borgreleased the song "Self-Care Sunday", featuring Ninja Sex Party.[48]In November 2019, the band releasedUnder the Covers, Vol. III.[49]

The ProphecyandLevel Up(2019–2021)

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On November 25, 2019, the band premiered a new original song, "The Mystic Crystal", their longest song yet at almost 12 minutes.[50]The video was subsequently released on June 9, 2021.

On December 14, 2019, the band released "The Decision Part 2: Ten Years Later", a music video celebrating the band's 10 year anniversary and acting as a sequel to "The Decision", Ninja Sex Party's second-ever song originally released on December 14, 2009; the video also revealed the title of their next original album,The Prophecy.[51][52]

On April 1, 2020, they released the music video for "I Don't Know What We're Talking About".[53]

In September 28,The Prophecywas released.[54]The album debuted at #1 onBillboard'sComedy Albumschart.[55]

The albumLevel Upwas released on October 22, 2021, and debuted at #1 on theBillboardComedy Albums chart.[56]

These Nuts(2023–2024)

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On February 17, 2023, the band announced the title forThese Nutsalongside the music video for "I Own A Car".[57]They would then release two more music videos, "Let's Save The Earth" on October 23, 2023,[58]and "Galaxy Hamster", on January 26, 2024.[59]

On March 8, 2024, the band's studio albumThese Nutswas officially released.

On May 28, 2024, the band posted on their social media, with the title "You are CORDIALLY invited to" NSP's 15 Year Anniversary: A Digital Concert Experience "!!!". Tickets for the event were for theirPatreonsubscribers only, including their free and paid subscribers. The extras that fans could purchase were tickets to their Q&A session after the performance, and a signed CD and LP of their upcoming "Masterstrokes" album.[60]

Public image

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Wecht manages all Ninja Sex Partysocial mediaaccounts, as well as Starbomb's and formerlyGame Grumps.[61]

The mobile gameShooting Starsfeatures a Boss named Grump Dan, who is a reference to Danny Sexbang.[62]

Members

[edit]
Ninja Sex Party performing with TWRP inNashvillein 2017. From left to right: Doctor Sung, Avidan, Wecht, and Lord Phobos, with Havve Hogan on drums in the background.

Band members

  • Dan Avidan(Danny Sexbang)– lead vocals(2009–present)
  • Brian Wecht(Ninja Brian)– keyboards, programming, spoken word, backing vocals(2009–present)

Session and touring musicians

  • Arin Hanson– spoken word, backing vocals(2011–present; also performsStarbombsongs at NSP live shows)
  • TWRP–backup band,opening act(2015–present)
    • Lord Phobos – guitars
    • Commander Meouch – bass, backing vocals
    • Doctor Sung – keyboards, synthesizers,keytar,talk box
    • Havve Hogan – drums


Timeline

Discography

[edit]
Main article:Ninja Sex Party discography
Original albums
Cover albums
Rerecordings
  • Level Up(2021)
Live albums
  • The Very, Very, Very, Very Classy Acoustic Album(2021)
Compilation
  • Masterstroke 15 Years Of Elegance (2024)

References

[edit]
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  3. ^Milne, Gregory (July 11, 2013)."Ninja Sex Party: Tales of Strawberries and Cream".Living Myth Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon May 25, 2016.RetrievedJune 16,2016.
  4. ^Augustborn, Nicolas (January 9, 2013)."Ninja Sex Party Interview".YouTube.Nicolas Augustborn.Archivedfrom the original on December 15, 2021.
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  57. ^Ninja Sex Party [@ninjasexparty](February 17, 2023)."Our new single" I Own A Car "is OUT NOW!!! Check it out on our channel, and get ready for our new original comedy album" These Nuts "coming later this year!"(Tweet).RetrievedApril 7,2024– viaTwitter.
  58. ^Ninja Sex Party [@ninjasexparty](October 23, 2023)."GO GET YOUR MOM AND CLICK THE LINK 'LET'S SAVE THE EARTH' MUSIC VIDEO OUT NOW!!! https://youtu.be/Qe9QgDNAtfQ?si=4pOU-HmvUael6wNb @Marisha_Ray @Alpharad @VernonShaw @Shoocharu"(Tweet).RetrievedApril 7,2024– viaTwitter.
  59. ^Ninja Sex Party [@ninjasexparty](January 26, 2024)."'Galaxy Hamster' is OUT NOW!!! Go watch the new music video, animated by the talented @ApartmentDfilms!!! "(Tweet).RetrievedApril 7,2024– viaTwitter.
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