For the past six years, The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival has welcomed sketch troupes from across North America to come and perform in the center of the universe, Toronto. With a very Toronto heavy line up this year, one of the out of town groups heading north is the New York duo of Ninja Sex Party. Danny Sexbang and Ninja Brian bring some musical flavour to the festival, in the form of a ninja, some sex, and a party. What’s not to like about that?
Q. What can audiences expect to see at a Ninja Sex Party show?
A. They can expect two people: Danny Sexbang (vocals) and Ninja Brian (piano). Danny will either be wearing a kimono or unitard, depending on what his mood is that evening. Ninja Brian will be masked and silent. We work our songs into a longer narrative structure, so the show is a single 20-minute piece with music happening throughout. If you like musicals, it’s kind of like a musical. If you don’t, then it’s nothing like a musical. People coming to the show should probably know not to piss off Ninja Brian, because that dude will drop you. However, they can feel free to taunt Danny mercilessly both during and after the show.
Q. What are your collective musical histories or training? How do your songs typically come about?
A. Danny has been performing in bands for many years, on both guitar and vocals. Ninja Brian has a B.A. in music (jazz) from Williams College, has been in a bunch of jazz and jam bands, and was the musical director for the Improv Asylum theater in Boston. Typically our songs start with either a title we find funny, or a killer riff that we can’t get out of our heads. Then we just keep going at it until the music is awesome and we like the jokes.
Q. We here at the Panic Manual listen to a lot of music from NY, especially Brooklyn. What NY bands are you guys listening to or know about that we may not be into yet here in Toronto?
A. One band we really like is Menage a Twang, an all-female trio. They’re kind of folk-rock, and very funny. In fact, they rule!
Q. Can girls be ninjas?
A. Yes, but they have to go through a rigorous screening process which, luckily, Ninja Sex Party is fully qualified to perform. Any girls interested in becoming ninjas should report to us immediately after the show.
You can catch Ninja Sex Party with some other R rated comedy shows here:
Friday, Nov.5, 10pm – Comedy Bar
Saturday, Nov.6, 10pm – Comedy Bar
