If you were an average citizen walking by the Corona Theatree on this night, you’d be justified in jumping into the corner dep, checking the newspaper to make sure you hadn’t stumbled into 1987. The number of middle-aged men in spandex, preferably leopard print, giant wigs, and eyeliner, was both glorious and frightening. The ladies took this fashion show just as seriously, making their hair big and their makeup exaggerated. However, I only saw one enterprising young lady who went through the effort of locating a crimping iron.
Inside, the venue was packed, and people were singing along to the hair metal soundtrack before the show. You could tell this crowd was ready. Black Stone Cherry were given the honours of getting them warmed up. This band falls firmly in the Nickelback butt rock genre, but the crowd was happy to take it in. The place turned into a giant dancefloor for their cover of ELO’s “Don’t Bring Me Down.”
Between sets, the sing-along grew even louder. Alice Cooper’s “Poison” was particularly drowned out by people with rock horns raised.
Steel Panther finally entered with “Going Through the Backdoor.” One thing that is immediately evident is that there is no band on the face of the earth that has more fun on stage than Steel Panther. There’s no pretense here, they’re here to have a great time and make sure the audience does too.
There are points where the audience interaction and jokes seem to take over, there’s sometimes 5 minutes between songs as they run sketches and introduce you to “the absolute best drummer in this band,” but the crowd absolutely eats it up. There was a point where audience interaction grew as they asked a girl to come on stage, “preferably one who doesn’t know who her father is.” Each member took a moment to sing her a song about how “hot” she was, and then they serenaded her to “Weenie Ride.”
It’s incredible that the band pulls this stuff off in 2022, but the reason why it works is that despite the way they talk, their actions on stage are completely respectful. They always make sure never to cross the line, even when sometimes girls jump on stage and cross the line with them. It’s a delicate balancing act that they seem to have perfected over the years, along with genuinely being some of the nicest rock stars I’ve had the pleasure to meet.
An absolute highlight was the band’s cover of “Crazy Train.” It started with guitarist Satchel’s guitar solo medley, which essentially ran through the greatest riffs of the 80s. I don’t think the novelty of this act would the same if there wasn’t also a high level of musicianship which was on full display here. But as he hit Crazy Train, vocalist Michael Starr came back on the stage dressed and acting like Ozzy. He took baby steps around the stage, looking disoriented with an Ozzy smile and clapping. Stagehands finally came on stage to show him to the mic. He’d randomly walk off and knock things over. I’d never been in tears laughing while headbanging before, but I tell you, the combo is quite therapeutic. The song ended as he choked after biting the head off of a plastic bat and had to be brought off stage to be resuscitated.
The stage was then filled with every girl who could make it up to the stage for “17 Girls in a Row” and “Death to All But Metal.” Hopefully, none of these young girls had a parent in the audience… although dad was probably wearing bright spandex, so I guess it’s all good.
The encore started with the most honest love song a rock star has ever written, “Community Property.” The crowd sang every word at the top of their lungs, there was a real community feeling to it.
The evening ended with banger “Gloryhole.” If this was intentional, this is some of the greatest attention to detail I’ve ever seen. When Starr sang, “I know a place just beyond Mickey D’s,” He was actually pointing the direction of the Notre Dame street McDonald’s. Bravo, good sir.
If you’re at a Steel Panther show and you’re not having fun, check your pulse.
Review – Richard Brunette
Photos – Kieron Yates
