Steel Panther – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney 08/12/13

December 9, 2013

Steel Panther’s love affair with Australia continues, with this their third tour in just two years. And the feeling is mutual, with each tour moving to bigger venues. This time round it’s the STD (Spreading The Disease) Tour landing at the almighty Hordern Pavilion. The show wasn’t quite sold out but, with the sheer amount of noise and the party atmosphere, it certainly felt like it.

LA’s Buckcherry supported Steel Panther, and performed an adequate show of their atypical American hard rock. A definite highlight was the set closer, their big single Crazy Bitch. Frontman Josh Todd was in fine form and although parts of the show felt like a cliché, it was good fun party rock and a good entree for the main course.

Launching into the stadium rock of Eyes Of The Panther, Steel Panther gave a non-stop rollercoaster of satirical hard rock, with some hilarious stage banter between many of the songs. Frontman Michael Starr was in supreme form, and the axework of Satchel could not be faulted. Lexi Foxxx on bass was his usual pretty-boy airhead self – a lot of boob flashing was pointed in his direction. And when drummer Stix Zandinia took to the piano for the beautifully moving Weenie Ride, it almost led to a bout of fainting amongst the ladies.

Steel Panther’s stage setup was most impressive, and with the giant video screen featuring lyrics for several songs, it was a great big singalong as they tore through the classics like It Won’t Suck Itself, Asian Hooker, and Let Me Cum In. It’s difficult to pick highlights from the set as it was such an outstanding gig. It was a perfect representation of the Steel Panther image; big and silly, poking fun at ’80s hair metal while embracing it at the same time. We were also treated to two new songs, latest single Party Like It’s The End Of The World, and the side-splitting Glory Hole.

After closing the main set with the epic double of Eatin’ Ain’t Cheatin’ and Death To All But Metal, Steel Panther returned with a dazzling triple – Community Property, Party All Day (Fuck All Night), and 17 Girls In A Row. It was a perfect way to top off what had been an orgy of Steel Panther debauchery.

With a new album due to drop in April, it’s a safe bet those wacky guys from Steel Panther will be returning to Oz. And we’ll be waiting.

Gallery: Steel Panther, Buckcherry – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney 07/12/13

Photos: Ashley Mar

Setlist:

Eyes Of A Panther

Tomorrow Night

Asian Hooker

Just Like Tiger Woods

Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World

Let Me Cum In

Guitar Solo

Turn Out The Lights

It Won’t Suck Itself

Glory Hole

Weenie Ride

Eatin’ Ain’t Cheatin’

Death To All But Metal

Encore;

Community Property

Party All Day (Fuck All Night)

17 Girls In A Row