STEEL PANTHER Deliver a One-Two Knockout Performance at London, UK’s The Roundhouse [Show Review]

It’s Sunday night (February 10, 2019) and, in London’s Camden district, fans are in pubs pre-drinking before jumping in a metaphorical DeLorean and being transported to a simpler time, the ‘80s! The hosts of tonight’s time travel is a band that have caused much controversy over the years – Steel Panther! This evening is set to be full of inappropriate jokes, boobs, and good old-fashioned rock n’ roll. What more could one want on a Sunday before the reality of Monday morning comes around again?

Kicking off the night, instead of an actual band, was DJ Matt Socks, who delivered a triumphant set full of classics from one of the greatest eras for rock. In preparation for Steel Panther taking to the stage, Socks encouraged the audience to blow up the condoms in their pockets – not long after there was a distinct smell of latex in the air! The final song of the set could not be anything else but Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”. It was quite a sight to see the whole venue head-bang to that iconic moment as Steel Panther entered the stage illuminated in a purple glow to the cheers of their delighted fans.

Starting their set in style, Steel Panther burst into “Eyes of a Panther” and with that, the real party had well and truly started! The set was a feast of favourites, from “Asian Hooker” to “Poontang Boomerang” and everything in between, as well as a healthy dose of covers including hits from Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, and Def Leppard. The night also gave guitarist Satchel the chance to demonstrate his skills with a cheesy solo following a cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train”, and Stix Zandinia showed off his drumming talents with an impressive homage to Def Leppard’s Rick Allen.

Tonight we “Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World!”

One of the best things about a Steel Panther show, aside from the kick-ass tunes, is that there is also plenty of banter to be had; Michael Starr, Satchel and Lexxi Foxx poke fun at each and the audience alike. Before covering the Crüe’s “Shout at the Devil”, Satchel pointed out that Starr had a reputation for being the Harvey Weinstein of metal. The audience wasn’t safe from the band’s jokes either, as one guy found out when he dared to bare all whilst standing on someone’s shoulders; “Look at that naked guy, It’s like a mushroom in tall grass.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Steel Panther show if the band didn’t populate the stage with ladies, so whilst covering “Pour Some Sugar on Me” that was exactly what happened, and they remained there until the band left three songs later following “Death to All but Metal”. With the audience still hungry for more, Starr and crew returned to the stage for two more rounds, opening with “17 Girls in a Row” and closing with fan favourite, “Gloryhole”.

No matter how many times Steel Panther play, their shows never dip in quality and they are always just so much fun. As long as Steel Panther exist, the spirit of the ‘80s will never die, and drink, drugs, and rock n’ roll will always be on the menu!

Charlie Steffens’ shots of SP when they hit House of Blues (Anaheim, California) on January 18, 2019.

Steel Panther’s Setlist:

01. Eyes of a Panther
02. Goin’ in the Backdoor
03. Shout at the Devil (Mötley Crüe cover)
04. Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)
05. Asian Hooker
06. Poontang Boomerang
07. Kickstart my Heart (Mötley Crüe cover)
08. Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne cover)
09. Party all Day (Fuck all Night)
10. Pour Some Sugar on Me (Def Leppard cover)
11. Livin’ on a Prayer (Bon Jovi cover)
12. Community Property
13. Death to All but Metal
Encore:
14. 17 Girls in a Row
15. Gloryhole

The Lower the Bar album dropped on March 24, 2017, via Universal Music.