It’s July 24th, we’ve all been sweating our bits off for weeks, and every single day seems to drag. So what better way to spend a Friday night, away from those blasted picky bits, than crammed together with hundreds of other (scantily clad) people in the semi-cool of Bristol’s O2 Academy to watch Steel Panther do their thing?
Kicking things off were Black Sonic Pearls, an alternative/modern rock band who brought a mixture of huge riffs, massive beats, emotion and wonder. Their energy was perfect for an opener; there was no softly-softly approach or easing you in. Huge riffs powered through the room, whilst the bass had so much force behind it you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in the middle of an earth-shattering movement.
With each song, every musician on stage had a moment to show off what they were made of. Every track seemed to top the last, with more and more heads joining the ever-growing sea of movement within the crowd.
Eventually things took a sombre turn. The next song was introduced as one written by one of the greatest musicians alive. A spotlight shone down on the singer whilst everything else was plunged into darkness. Then a beautifully soft, yet emotionally powerful vocal filled the room as the band eased us into Michael Jackson’s Earth Song. It was a moment of calm in what promised to be a chaotic night, and everyone paid full attention, almost transfixed by the seamless transition from powerful riffs to delicate vocals and gentle guitar work.
The quiet, reflective atmosphere didn’t last long, though, with the band soon launching back into those massive riffs, booming bass lines and drums full of aggression and weight with My Denial.
They closed their set with 1000 Whispers, a track that’s just incredible to experience live. The drum work was furious and relentless, never letting up, whilst the vocals carried a slight growl behind them, adding depth to an already weighty and punchy set.
Words by Shanna Blaise
Photography: Emma Painter
Following on were Kelsy Karter & The Heroines, bringing theatrical, almost burlesque-inspired gritty rock. Kelsy’s vocals, especially towards the beginning of the set, were beautiful and soft, full of soul and captivating the room. In her lacy get-up she didn’t just sing, she truly performed, with every lyric being given its own movement, whilst all eyes remained fixed on her.
The backing vocals wove in and out, blending together like buttercream icing. The drums were huge but never overpowering, whilst the guitar and bass kept everything grounded and driving forward. After their initial mini hypnosis by Kelsy, the crowd soon started to move, feeling the rhythm deep inside themselves, heads bopping and bodies swaying as the guitar wailed in the background.
The performance aspect never died down either, with the energy remaining consistent throughout the set. From dramatic falls to her knees, to impressively sustained notes, every moment felt natural. This isn’t a band who stand stiff as a board clutching onto their instruments and mics as if their lives depend on it; you definitely get your money’s worth with these guys!
Soon Kelsy told us about her stint performing as Jessica Rabbit, explaining how there are plenty of songs about heartbreak and sadness, but the next one was about… shagging. A cheeky giggle followed before the bass started to shake the room, whilst the drums continued to strike the perfect balance between power and restraint, with the guitar remaining solid throughout.
Then it was time for a tribute, this time to the recently departed legend Bonnie Tyler, whom Kelsy credited as an inspiration. Everyone other than Kelsy and guitarist Matt left the stage. Everything turned quiet, and a simple, Spanish-infused version of Holding Out For A Hero by Bonnie Tyler filled the air. It was a wonderfully emotional moment, bringing the crowd together.
They closed the set with a powerful spoken-word piece about an exchange with a man named Jimmy, where the pair discussed heartbreak before he suggested Kelsy travel to the stars, flowing seamlessly into the closing track, Liquor Store On Mars.
KarKelsy Karter & The Heroines
Words by Shanna Blaise
Photography: Emma Painter
Finally it was time for the chaos everyone made their way into Bristol for. A sea of people surged forward as Steel Panther took to the stage in all their floofy-haired, shiny-trousered, ’80s throwback glory. From the first note there was no doubt this was going to live up to expectations, with pole dancers strutting across the stage in skyscraper heels whilst the guys somehow balanced flirting with every woman in the crowd without ever missing a beat.
Before long the band burst into fan favourite Asian Hooker, with pretty much every person in the venue singing along at full volume. If you go to a Steel Panther show, don’t expect seamless transitions between songs or very little stage banter. In fact, at points you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d walked into some bizarre ’80s throwback comedy show. There’s no denying the chemistry between the band, which is handy when most of their jokes revolve around having sex with each other’s mothers.
We were soon introduced to ‘Spyder’s Boobie Bites’, tasty little morsels he threw into the crowd, promising they wouldn’t just taste great but would also give the consumer a higher perspective on the night…
The madness continued as the set powered on, with singer Michael falling to catch his hat, which he threw so gracefully into the air. A bit of back and forth with Satchel and the pair ‘hugged it out’ before smoothly transitioning into Friends With Benefits, leading into what felt like the world’s longest guitar solo.
Crowd favourite Death To All But Metal soon followed, with everyone screaming along at the top of their lungs, the room really coming together as one. 1987 followed, and the atmosphere in the venue was still electric as everyone moved around and attempted to sing along.
Then it was time to find a lucky lady from the crowd to be serenaded by every member of Steel Panther. They settled on Courtney, who turned out to be just 19, with this being her first ever gig! What a welcome into the world of live music! As she got comfy on her stool, the filthy jokes continued, with Satchel claiming to have already had his wicked way with her. Each member of the band attempted to write a song to woo her, with varying levels of success.
Then it was time for the moment all of the women in the crowd had been waiting… semi-patiently… for: the open invitation to join the band on stage for 17 Girls In A Row. It was utter animalistic mayhem, with women scrambling to secure their place. With all the girls finally having made it onto the stage, the band launched into 17 Girls In A Row, with lots of seductive dancing from the ladies. Imagine being at the zoo when the lions are in heat – absolute carnage as everyone tried to steal a moment with each member of the band!
As the girls left the stage with a new lust for life, the set continued without a hitch. Michael Starr even caught his hat… multiple times this time!
Steel Panther were exactly what everyone came for: filthy humour, lyrics you wouldn’t dare sing in front of your parents, chaos, huge riffs, pounding beats and basslines to shake you to your core, and a show that’s equally entertaining between the songs as it is during them.
Words by Shanna Blaise
Photography: Emma Painter
Connect with Steel Panther:
Website: https://steelpanther.com
Twitter: @Steel_Panther
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Instagram: @steelpanther
