The times of Covid putting the music industry on hold is over and boy are we glad it is. It’s so great to once again see tours being announced and seeing live music in person once again, and as a fan of Steel Panther it was exciting to see them on stage doing what they do best. Going to a Steel Panther show isn’t your ordinary rock show, it’s way more than that, it’s an experience all in its own. It’s a party from the time they hit the stage until they bow to the crowd and thank all their Fanthers (the term Steel Panther has given their most die-hard fans) for joining them before walking off the stage. The tour made a stop at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, Iowa and while it was a two and half hour drive to the party it was well worth it.
Opening the show was Rockford, Illinois rock band, Monroe. Monroe consists of Gavin Arnold (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Logan Bell (bass), Dalton Seebruck (lead guitar/backing vocals), and Josh Kennedy (drums/backing vocals). Monroe doesn’t have a lot of music that’s currently available, as they have been in the studio working on their EP This is Rebirth which is due out in the next few months. I did enjoy Monroe’s performance. They did a good job of getting the crowd warmed up for the party that was to come later in the evening. I believe once Monroe gets their EP out and there’s more music by them out there you will be seeing them as an opener for some of rock’s biggest names. If you would like to get to know more about Monroe you can find them on Facebook and Instagram, they also have a video out for their song “Tides”. If you live in or around the Rockford, Illinois area you can catch Monroe at District Bar and Grill in Rockford on April 16th. They are definitely worth checking out. If you’re a fan of hard-hitting rock music you won’t be disappointed.
Next up was the Maryland quartet Any Given Sin. Any Given Sin has been on the rock scene since their debut EP Forbidden in 2015. The guys in Any Given Sin have various musical backgrounds that make up their signature style. Guitarist Mike Conner and Mike Showalter come from a heavier rock music background, while bassist Rick Stevenson comes from an industrial music background and vocalist Victor Ritchie comes from an alternative, blues, and grunge background that you can really feel when he sings. If Any Given Sin sounds familiar you may know them from their single “Dynamite” which was on heavy rotation on Sirius XM’s Octane and topped out at #4 on the Biguns Countdown. Any Given Sin definitely set the tone for the night, as they relentlessly played some of their best-known songs. Their energy on stage was having an impact on the crowd as you could see heads banging and horns being thrown up throughout their performance. Any Given Sin had a stand-in bassist for their performance at the 5 Flags Event Center but I would have never guessed it as he definitely didn’t look out of place and looked like he fit in perfectly with the rest of the band. If you like in your face rock music then check out Any Given Sin. They are currently on a break from touring after being on tour with Steel Panther, but I have a feeling they won’t be for very long.
Finally, was the band everyone was there to see. The infamous, oftentimes raunchy, Steel Panther. This would be my fourth time seeing Steel Panther and like the previous three times I saw them, they didn’t disappoint. Nothing says or describes Steel Panther better than 80’s hair metal and everything that entails. Big hair, check. Testosterone, check. Women galore, another check. Bitchin and face-melting guitar solos, you best believe it. Steel Panter consists of Michael Starr (vocals), Stix Zadinia (drums), and Satchel (guitar), who I would consider one of the best at his craft, and newcomer Rikki Thrash (bass). Rikki Thrash replaces longtime bassist Lexxi Foxx on this tour.
From the moment Steel Panther opened the show with “Eyes of a Panther”, you knew it was going to be a fun night. There aren’t many rock shows out there where you not only get to see some kick-ass throwback 80’s hair metal and some laughs but that’s exactly what you will get at a Steel Panther show. Whether it’s the lyrics from their catchy songs or the raunchy dialogue back and forth between songs, you’re guaranteed to share some laughs with other fans throughout the evening. They brought one lucky lady on stage and each member of the band serenaded her with some pretty adult-oriented lyrics before Michael Starr sang “Wennie Ride” to her while Stix played the piano. If you’re a woman coming to a Steel Panther show you may get selected to get up on stage with the band for their song “17 Girls in a Row” and the band usually let the women continue to party with the band for the following song, which on this night was “Party All Day”. An added treat for this performance was a cover of Van Halen’s “Jump” where the ladies got to stay on stage for while they continued to party with the band. The highlight of the night, for me, was Satchel’s amazing guitar solo. Satchel’s musicianship is up there with the best of them. If you haven’t been able to catch a Steel Panther show, go on YouTube and watch one of the many Satchel’s guitar solo videos to see exactly what I’m talking about.
Overall, it was another great performance by Steel Panter who have yet to disappoint me. Their set consisted of 12 songs, and while I wished there were a few more of their more known songs on the setlist, it was still a great setlist and a hell of a party. Steel Panther will be on tour in the US until May 21st before they head overseas for four months. They have also been selected to kick off the Welcome to Rockville festival on Wednesday, May 18th for their camping kick-off party.
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