By Andrew Bansal
October 31st 2016, The Roxy, West Hollywood CA: Following an active year of touring nationwide as well as overseas, parody metal kings Steel Panther have returned home, and just like the old days, are doing a residency on the Sunset Strip, albeit for a mere four shows. Having completed long and successful residencies at the Key Club and House Of Blues in the recent past and a short-lived one at the Fonda earlier this year, Steel Panther are now back to their old stomping grounds, the Roxy. The first of these four shows took place on Halloween night, and playing to a sold-out crowd, the band pulled out all the stops to make it a party to remember.
For starters, it was Halloween night, and as you would imagine, Sunset Blvd was at a standstill. I had to step off the bus and walk from Sunset/La Cinega to the Roxy, and I’m glad I decided to do so, because this was no typical Steel Panther residency show on the Strip, the band slated to go on stage at 10 PM, as opposed to past residencies where they’d go on closer to midnight. This show was sold out in advance, and by the band was scheduled to start, the Roxy was packed with quite the congregation of costumed partiers looking for a good time. They certainly landed at the right place, to see a band very much synonymous with the word ‘party’. Steel Panther are known to bring on guest musicians to join them, but not on this occasion, as this was a very old-school and back-to-the-roots kind of Panther show. It was later revealed that a majority of this audience had never seen the band before, and what they were treated to was definitely the perfect show for a first-timer.
Starting out with ‘Eyes Of A Panther’, an old gem from the debut album, Steel Panther hit the stage only 15 minutes behind schedule, but played a full 90-minute show and presented their signature assortment of party anthems, metal parodies, covers and sex jokes. With the kind of image they portray, there was no need for them to dress up any more than they already do, which is what makes them a perfect Halloween band, but singer Michael Starr went the extra mile and was very aptly carrying out the role of ‘Skeleton Vince Neil’. The band played tunes from all three of their albums as well as rocking renditions of some hard rock/heavy metal classics, made jokes about Michael Starr’s age and bassist Lexxi Foxxx’s sexuality, brought girls on stage and sang songs about them that they’d made up on the spot. None of this may sound new to a Steel Panther regular, but such is the quality of the performance and the hilarity of the stage banter that it simply never gets old. Besides, they’re really not catering to the regulars at this point in their career, specially on the Sunset Strip. For this predominantly new audience, Steel Panther delivered the goods and then some, and were reciprocated in full, as this was one of the best crowds I’ve witnessed for any Steel Panther show.
Seeing this band for the first time at the Roxy (supposedly on the 10th anniversary of their last show here), it must be said that this venue is best suited for the ideal Steel Panther experience, serving the band, the fans and the show better than other venues have. The stage is big enough but low, encouraging attendees to step closer and get a good look at the band. Even though I was not far from the front row, I felt closer to the band that I have in other places. Also, even with the slightly elevated bar and VIP sections, the Roxy always feels like one single room, and the band has a better grip on the audience than at venues divided in different sections and floors.
In the context of this story, I must reveal that I offered my plus one to six different friends and they all rejected it, saying they hate Steel Panther, but for the amount of hate they get from people who clearly don’t understand the act, it is good to note that they’re still gaining new fans with every show and that they can sell out shows such as this without the support of the regulars. One of the greatest bands in existence, they deserve every bit of the love and none of the hate. As a person who once used to hate this band until finally turning around to the point that I now hard to understand how anyone can hate them, I can legitimately state that if you hate Steel Panther, you’re as much of a loser as the dude in the Hulk costume at this show who refused to get up on stage despited repeated pleas from the band.
The Roxy was well and truly in high spirits on Halloween night, and Steel Panther looked quite at home, reveling in the hometown spotlight and turning back the years with an old-school set. Unless you’re nowhere near the LA area or a no-fun kind of person, make it a point to catch the band at their best at one of the remaining Roxy residency shows on November 9th, 15th and 22nd.
Enter our ticket giveaway for the next show!
Set List:
01. Eyes Of A Panther
02. Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World
03. Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)
04. Crazy Train
05. Asian Hooker
05. Livin’ On A Prayer
06. It Won’t Suck Itself
07. Girl From Oklahoma
08. Big City Nights / Mr. Brownstone
09. Community Property
10. Kickstart My Heart
11. Jump
12. Party All Day