Twelve Foot Ninja @ 170 Russell, Melbourne (04/04/2014)
While still largely unknown in Australia, Twelve Foot Ninja's cult following is growing larger with each tour that they undertake, which was more than evident tonight by the legions of fans pushing their way towards the prime spot on the stage barrier of 170 Russell.
I first saw Twelve Foot Ninja perform at the Evelyn Hotel in Fitzroy back in 2008 with Sleep Parade. They were an unexpected highlight of the night, delivering a bizarre set of heavy groove rock, which even featured a cover of The Presets' hit, My People. I'd have called them a fresh faced band, but it was hard to tell under their costumes. Yes, true to their name, they were dressed up as ninjas. That, dear readers, is dedication to the art!
Let's fast forward six years later, and Twelve Foot Ninja have come a long way. After years of playing support to local and international acts such as Periphery, and Fear Factory, they're headlining their biggest gig to date in one of Melbourne's larger rock venues. It's not unreasonable to say that their accomplishment tonight is a testament to their dedication over the past few years. And while there are claims that the local industry is in trouble, (let's be honest, with Melbourne's Palace Theatre facing closure) it was fantastic to see 170 Russell at capacity. Not only does this prove that local live gigs are alive and well in Melbourne, but that Twelve Foot Ninja's cult following is stronger than ever.
When Twelve Foot Ninja do take to the stage, they kick off their night with 'Coming For You', a track which has become the anthem of their live show. Admittedly, it was surprising to hear it at the beginning of the night, but it well and truly set the mood for the set, while vocalist Kin prowls the stage; stomping and delivering his lyrics as though he were giving a battle cry before an onslaught. Never dropping his guard throughout the night; Kin is consistently delivering strong performances and proving himself to be one of Australia's most unique vocalists.
Twelve Foot Ninja feeds off the energy from the crowd, and incorporate it into their performance. It's rare that a band can perform a show and never have a dull moment, but Twelve Foot Ninja strikes the perfect balance of professionalism and musical timing. My personal praise goes to bassist Damon McKinnon, who delivers the soaring heavy groove which keeps the night flowing.
Twelve Foot Ninja are one of Australia's next level bands, and I daresay it won't be long until we're including their name amongst Australia's prog rock legends. Leaving their audiences floored by their performances, I am consistently impressed by their professionalism, and unique style. A world class act.
Luke Sutton
I first saw Twelve Foot Ninja perform at the Evelyn Hotel in Fitzroy back in 2008 with Sleep Parade. They were an unexpected highlight of the night, delivering a bizarre set of heavy groove rock, which even featured a cover of The Presets' hit, My People. I'd have called them a fresh faced band, but it was hard to tell under their costumes. Yes, true to their name, they were dressed up as ninjas. That, dear readers, is dedication to the art!
Let's fast forward six years later, and Twelve Foot Ninja have come a long way. After years of playing support to local and international acts such as Periphery, and Fear Factory, they're headlining their biggest gig to date in one of Melbourne's larger rock venues. It's not unreasonable to say that their accomplishment tonight is a testament to their dedication over the past few years. And while there are claims that the local industry is in trouble, (let's be honest, with Melbourne's Palace Theatre facing closure) it was fantastic to see 170 Russell at capacity. Not only does this prove that local live gigs are alive and well in Melbourne, but that Twelve Foot Ninja's cult following is stronger than ever.
When Twelve Foot Ninja do take to the stage, they kick off their night with 'Coming For You', a track which has become the anthem of their live show. Admittedly, it was surprising to hear it at the beginning of the night, but it well and truly set the mood for the set, while vocalist Kin prowls the stage; stomping and delivering his lyrics as though he were giving a battle cry before an onslaught. Never dropping his guard throughout the night; Kin is consistently delivering strong performances and proving himself to be one of Australia's most unique vocalists.
Twelve Foot Ninja feeds off the energy from the crowd, and incorporate it into their performance. It's rare that a band can perform a show and never have a dull moment, but Twelve Foot Ninja strikes the perfect balance of professionalism and musical timing. My personal praise goes to bassist Damon McKinnon, who delivers the soaring heavy groove which keeps the night flowing.
Twelve Foot Ninja are one of Australia's next level bands, and I daresay it won't be long until we're including their name amongst Australia's prog rock legends. Leaving their audiences floored by their performances, I am consistently impressed by their professionalism, and unique style. A world class act.
Luke Sutton