Michael Starr and Lexxi Fox - overdrive.ie
Steel Panther are a glam metal band from Los Angeles. Glam metal can also be known as hair metal. It's an extravagant genre of metal. Big wigs, bright lipstick and tight pants. Bands such as Motley Crue, Quiet Riot and Bon Jovi would be the biggest names in this genre. The Bay Area in San Francisco was the home of thrash metal and the Sunset Boulevard in L.A. was home to glam metal. As someone who predominately loves thrash and Nordic metal, bands such as Metallica, Ghost, Nightwish, Volbeat and Megadeth why would I go watch Steel Panther?
Fun. Glam metal shows, such as a Steel Panther show is more than just a concert. It's a comedic and virtuoso experience. The concert as a whole was a fun and energetic night. There are few things better than a good concert, and this was one of the best ones I've been too.
The night started with Gus G's band. Gus G was the former guitar player for Ozzy Osbourne. I unfortunately only got half of their set, however, it was an enjoyable set. Thin Lizzy always goes down well in Dublin and Gus G's band covered my personal favourite Thin Lizzy song "Cold Sweat." I've always been a fan of the heavier Thin Lizzy songs, once I heard this, I had a hunch I was in for a good night.
In the first five songs of the setlist, Steel Panther had played one of the few songs I knew by them, "Asian Hooker" and a cover of Motley Crue's "Shout at the Devil". This was an electric start to the show. In between songs there was on stage banter between lead singer Michael Starr (Ralph Saenz) and lead guitarist Satchel (Russ Parrish). The jokes and banter are vulgar in their nature, but it's glam metal. It's going to be in your face one way or the other.
The next part of the set was my favourite part of the whole night. The purple backdrop had been changed to a picture of the famous Hollywood sign. Covers of "Kickstart My Heart" by Motley Crue and "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne were topped off by rip-roaring guitar solo by Satchel. He played the kick drum whilst at the same time treated the crowd to "Master of Puppets" by Metallica, "Sweet Child of Mine" by Guns N Roses and "Iron man" by Black Sabbath. This was a fantastic medley and had the crowd singing loudly and moving frantically.
One of my favourite aspects to the genre of metal is the certain attitudes that come with the music. People who go onto form metal bands aren't popular people, they're usually outsiders. There is an air of "I don't care what you think of me" when it comes to metal. There is no pretentiousness, no holier than thou attitudes. Steel Panther just played their hits, covers of popular songs and had a fun time with the audience. The gig wasn't meant to reinvent the wheel, it wasn't to be an over the top production, it was just people having fun enjoying their favourite music, a simple pleasure.
They went off stage and the usual chant of "one more tune" rang out through Vicar Street. The band came back and treated the crowd to two songs. "17 Girls in a Row" and their biggest hit "Gloryhole". Fans went to Vicar Street hoping a fun entertaining night that distracts you from the real world for a couple of hours and that's what we got.
Starr and Satchel rocking out - Photo credit: overdrive.ie
Photos were taken overdrive.ie and videos were recorded by me on my own phone for a college assignment.
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