LIVE @ The Croxton - Melbourne, VIC - Saturday 8 January 2022

Written by: Adam Perry - The Lurker at the Back of the Venue | Saturday 8 January 2022

The Iceberg that was 50,000+ cases of scurvy* was never going to be a match for the triumphant return of Melbourne’s own crew of schizophonic wacky djents; The magnificently mental TWELVE FOOT NINJA.

A show at Thornbury’s Croxton Bandroom originally slated to coincide with the release of the band’s latest album Vengeance in mid October 2020, during yet another enforced lockdown, finally got the go-ahead. After the P&O Fairstar made a quick stopover in Adelaide for a strange sit-down affair that probably should have included prawn cocktail for entrée the merry NINJAs came back home for their first live gig since back in the good old days of you know, like, pre-2020. Wouldn’t you know it though, scurvy* still managed to jam a throwing star into the works, yet our heroes forged ahead and with the help of the hard-working staff at The Croxton, split the show into 2 to combat Victoria’s newly introduced density limits. One a metal matinee at 4pm and the later traditional 8pm show.

I must not have been to any kind of show for god knows how long because when I arrived at the venue to the tail-end of support act, THE OMNIFIC’s set, I could feel my vocal chords vibrating such was the thunderous bottom-end of their dual bass guitar wizardry. Strangely enough I felt that there was more THE OMNIFIC merch on offer that there was for the headliner but there was no doubt who the live heavy music starved punters were here to see and with only a short break to set up it was time for the show to begin.

A Tale of the NINJAs and The Show That Would Not Die…
… and Dexter - The Dating Show Robot

Tearing on stage to the ripping opener from Vengeance the magnificent Start the Fire Kin/Nik, Stevic, Ro and Russ gave the appearance of a band starved of the energy only a live crowd can provide, yet showed no sign of rust from a long absence from the stage. Promising a chance for all singles to mingle and perhaps find that special someone Kin was the show’s cruise director having the crowd in his hand from the first verse. 12FN mastermind Stevic was in scintillating form and took great joy in a new toy at his disposal dropping hilarious soundbites from Perfect Match so often that I expected Dexter the robot to appear onstage at any time. The amazing Rohan was dominant on six-string and the ying to Stevic’s wacky yang while Russ’s awesome time shifting drumming was immediately on point and alternating between ground-shaking and jazzy at the drop of a dime. Unfortunately they were missing their new bassist Dave due to him having fallen ill before his first shows as the newest NINJA, though it didn’t affect the fantastic sound generated by the O.G’s.

Did I mention the crowd were all onboard the ‘Love Boat’ to Fiji and the boys were all decked out in their very best leisure gear? Complete with boardies, sunnies and of course fluorescent bum bags. I’m sure the dudes in the audience dressed in pirate gear were stoked to have not overdressed for the occasion. I never knew Jack Sparrow was such a big MOTÖRHEAD fan! Speaking of the masked crowd they absolutely lapped it all up. Those up front showed no fear of the scurvy* banging heads and throwing up the horns like there was no tomorrow.

The set list took in tracks from almost all of 12FN’s albums and EPs and you could clearly tell the band was delighted to finally be playing the newer songs onstage. You can never say ‘I like your old stuff better than your new stuff’ about TWELVE FOOT NINJA because all their stuff is so freaking good. While traditional mainstays like Coming for You, Mother Sky and the always insanely awesome One Hand Killing were met with fervent scenes, newer tracks like the aforementioned Start the Fire, Long Way Home, Vengeance and Over and Out minus the guesting Tatiana Shmayluk were greeted like old friends. Other highlights of the night were Shuriken and a smashing Invincible.

In the end, the show-that-could-not-be-killed delivered on all fronts and everyone in attendance was treated to a sublime set and given a chance to farewell the departing Nik who is hanging up his jika-tabi sandals. He performed with the vigour and ferocity of someone who has had a weight lifted from his back and was just enjoying being back on stage with his mates in front of the fanatics that love them.

All photos by: Andrew Basso @electrummusicphotography

The VENGEANCE Setlist