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| Steel Panther @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Steel Panther brought their unique form of hair metal to The Fillmore for the first time on Thursday. For the uninitiated, their concert experience (and it is indeed an experience and not just a band playing music) combines elements of 1985 Mötley Crüe, Spinal Tap, Wayne’s World and Adam Sandler. Put it all together and you end up with a night that throws double middle fingers at today’s cancel culture with over-the-top debauchery and song lyrics that are unencumbered by any notion of propriety or avoidance of profanity.
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| Michael Starr of Steel Panther @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Judging by the many audience members who could sing along to most every song, there’s maybe even a little Rocky Horror Picture Show element to the participative nature of the show. They’re a band who has successfully navigated from uber-talented metal cover band at LA’s Viper Room to topping both rock and comedy charts with high-energy originals that are tongue-in-cheek (and, according to their on-stage banter, tongue in many other places too).
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| Stix Zadinia of Steel Panther @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Founding singer Michael Starr and guitarist Satchel were backed by drummer Stix Zadinia and bassist Spyder to take a thrilled audience on a two-hour exploration back in time to an oblivious hair metal civilization before the PMRC, political correctness and “Me Too” ever existed. In between opening their set with “Goin’ in the Backdoor” and closing with “Gloryhole,” nothing was sacred and no topic was off limits. Stix was challenged to do a one-armed drum tribute to Rick Allen. Starr poked fun at Vince Neil’s lack of fitness (“We became buds and we’d hang out tougher and go to all-you-can-eat buffets) and later reemerged in full later day Ozzy Osbourne impression – nailing the look, stance, voice and mumblings of the “Prince of Darkness.” The band took shots at each other (Satchel on Starr: “If he was any dumber, we’d have two bassists.”), and with the audience (“All the merch we sell tonight is going to a good cause. Every cent will help to feed our cocaine habits….” “This is a brand-new song off our brand-new record and if you don’t know it, sing along cuz it never really matters any way.”).
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| Spyder of Steel Panther @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
But while constantly joking, Steel Panther put on a no-joke super tight performance that displayed their high levels of musicianship and superior performance talent. Starr can match and exceed David Lee Roth in his prime with his wit and vocal range. He’s got all the classic DLR style with a LOT more substance. Satchel’s riffs were on the same level of performances as originals like Slash, Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen. His “Crazy Train” playing was top notch as Starr joined in with his impersonation of Ozzy.
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| Steel Panther @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
At The Fillmore, the band was also joined on-stage by Bay Area thrash metal guitar legend Phil Demmel (Vio-lence, Machine Head) who brought a terrific intensity to a Van Halen-style cover of “You Really Got Me”, after performing “Asian Hooker” off Steel Panther’s 2009 “Feel the Steel”. The songs and lyrics were hilarious, but their talent was entertaining and impressive. By the time they ended their first set with “17 Girls in a Row” (with at least that many female audience members dancing and singing on stage) and their anthem of “Death to All but Metal,” the Fillmore audience was locked-in and fully transported to Steel Panther’s alternative version of the 1980’s when hair metal ruled the world.
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| Satchel of Steel Panther @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
If you read this review and think “I don’t think I would enjoy this,” please don’t ever go see Steel Panther as you will no doubt wreck it for everyone else around you. But, if you feel even a remote tingling of mischievous inquisitiveness (and The Panther would definitely remark about any “remote tingling”), check them out next time, download or watch a few videos. A little willing suspension of disapproval will take you to a land and time far, far away.
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| L.A. Maybe @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Openers The L.A. Maybe, were not listed on the bill and were thus greeted by a man in the front row yelling out twice “Who the fuck are you?” as they came on stage. After blasting through their first three songs off their Dirty Damn Tricks album, guitarist Dallas Dwight acknowledged the greeting and sought to ensure that the man felt better about their presence. Coming out of 2022 that saw two tours in Europe and an appearance on the Kiss Kruise, this hard rock band from the Carolinas is on the ascent and delivered an engaging and confident opening set. Their sound blends the southern guitar twang of Black Crowes (courtesy of Dwight and fellow guitarist Drizzle Silvera,) with the sunset strip sound of Guns ‘n’ Roses and Bon Scott-era AC/DC. Singer Goliath Furr spoke from the heart about the death of far too many by suicide and the need for all of us to just reach out with a call or text now and then to ensure people are ok. “I’m a hugger, ok?”, he said and the band launched into their terrific power ballad “When I’m Gone.” Bassist Rahsaan Lacey brought great intensity on bass out front with his active audience engagement and drummer Ryan Fosno provided a strong foundation from the back.
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