Ninja Love
Encinitas, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2010 | SELF
Music
Press
“It’s outrageously hot on stage inside our ninja outfits,” says keyboardist Matt Liebowitz, one half of “karate-rock” duo Ninja Love. “Black pants, black shoes, black T-shirts, black hoodies with the hood up at all times, and black masks. It gets so hot, I keep extra ninja masks in my glove box.”
Neither Liebowitz nor singer/guitarist Mike Villemaire has been trained in martial arts. “All the technique is cribbed from kung fu films and how we believe ninjas act. I mean, who’s ever seen a real ninja, right?”
The band’s stage props do include authentic martial arts gear. “We actually use nunchucks in songs,” says Liebowitz, “and Mike is incredibly adept with them, though not trained. He has a tambourine mounted on the mike stand, and he hits it with the nunchucks.
“Our samurai sword is definitely real, and I assume it’s illegal. It’s certainly sharp. We keep that one in a guitar case until it’s on stage.” Liebowitz admits his hard-rock duo was worried about the sword when playing O’Connell’s so soon after the January 11 shooting near the club. “We figured tensions were high…if they saw us take a sword out on stage, someone might freak out. Especially if they didn’t like our music,” ’70s-style hard rock with a karate kick.
Liebowitz hopes actual martial artists aren’t offended by their act, especially since they hope to shoot a CD cover (“and maybe a video”) at a local dojo. “I guess they might be bothered by us but hopefully not enough to fight us. If real ninjas find out about us, though, we’re screwed. I’m sure we’ll be quickly and expertly disposed of.” - San Diego Reader
Ninja Love, two guys from San Diego, California, are armed with guitars, drums, keyboards, looping pedals, electronics, percussion and an array of stage props. Ninja Love plays intricately arranged, heavily rhythmic songs formed out of a shared love for proper rock music. Exactly what the new ‘AXE Mature’ commercial needed.
We’ve synced their song ‘Gentle Sea Beast’ to the new ‘AXE Mature’ commercial for the Latin American market. Depending on your mood, with AXE you can now decide which deodorant to use. Well, is it going to be Young or Mature? - Massive Talent
Discography
Light Yourself on Fire, 2009
http://ninjalove.bandcamp.com/album/light-yourself-on-fire
Shishkebab, 2010
http://ninjalove.bandcamp.com/album/shishkebab-2
Photos
Bio
Ninja Love prefers to keep its origins hazy. What is known is that the band lives in San Diego, and has two members. Armed with guitars, drums, keyboards, looping pedals, electronics, percussion and an array of stage props, Ninja Love plays intricately arranged, heavily rhythmic songs formed out of a shared love of Tool, Cake, Phish, Minus the Bear and Queens of the Stone Age.
Ninja Love’s shows are raucous, visual experiences, with its costumed musicians performing amid a shroud of darkness and fog to let the songs speak from themselves. The band's song "Gentle Sea Beast" is currently featured in an international campaign for Axe.
Band Members
Links
