You wanted the best – you got STEEL PANTHER!
I had an absolutely perfect day here in Manchester, UK, yesterday. Arrived around 10 in the morning and had the whole day to enjoy the sunshine and the many happenings, markets and fairs down in the city center.
There was music everywhere, everything from karaoke (a little girl was singing, I remember her having a wonderful voice – hopefully a future star!) acrobats, dancers, street art and walking soda cups. Anything you could imagine. There was BBQ’ing and it smelled so good, food from everywhere, cajun, indian, traditional… And home made cupcakes. Too bad I’m on a low carb diet, or I would have tried a few of those, they looked delicious.
My feet and my back were killing me after the hours of walking, I just went back to the hotel for 10 minutes to get some rest, then walked off to O2, Apollo. There was already a line, 3,5 hours before doors even opened.
What I don’t like about O2 though, is that so called “priority guests”-line. People who BUY their way in, they get in before everybody else and can choose their spots. So all the other people who have been standing there all day freezing their asses off, getting tired just as much as anyone else, gets to stare at somebody’s back instead.
I ended up behind two teenage girls who were giggling and talking the WHOLE time, except for when they were updating their Facebook-statuses of course, or texting…
Anyway, the hours spent out there in the cold were still worth it. At least as soon as the opening act Falling Red got off the stage. The difference between Steel Panther and bands like Falling Red is that at least Steel Panther is doing it as a JOKE, as a parody of what the glam and sleaze era was all about.
Falling Red IS the kind of band that they are joking about. When they started shouting about who in the audience was a sex addict or a drug/alcohol addict, as if it was something cool to scream a “yes” to that bullshit, I just thought “please get off the fucking stage you beehived Motley Crue wannabe losers”…
If they meant it as a joke as well, it just wasn’t made the right way, come on, it’s not the 80’s anymore.
But if I erase those 30 minutes of the show out of my head (believe me, it won’t take long) and move on to the Steel Panther show…
Steel Panther is – hands down – the BEST live band there is, anywhere, right now. They take ALL the elements that makes a great show, mix them all together and put a label on it that says STEEL PANTHER. Absolutely fucking AMAZING.
You get great music, played by extremely talented musicians (a fact that tends to be overlooked because of the parody label) you get four guys who are working their asses off on stage with their poses and their moves, oh, and they’re hot too.
There’s the 80’s outfits, the smoke, lasers, confetti…! It’s like Christmas and New Year’s all on one. And on top of all that, the icing on the cake – the jokes. You get to laugh too. There is no better entertainment package anywhere right now. They are doing this so right, and they’re leading their crowd into a mass psychosis pretty much.. :))
Chicks go to their shows, PLANNING to show their tits. One of them had painted something on her boobs last night, and tried everything to get noticed by the “titty cam” – and was the happiest girl in the world when she got up on stage and could lift up her home-made shirt “look everyone, I’ve got boobies!”. Well it’s just bizarre sometimes to watch the whole spectacle.
The only downside is that when you’ve seen Steel Panther a few times, some of the jokes tend to get a bit…old. :) That’s just because you’ve heard them before so it’s more like “yeah yeah, Michael is 65 years old and had a hip replacement and takes Viagra – gotcha”.
Other than that – I love this band. I will definitely travel again to see them, because it’s the one band where you simply can’t go wrong – you’re guaranteed to have a great time!
Thanks – again – Steel Panther!
[Photos here: www.facebook.com/intherearviewmirror]
[More VIDEOS here: http://lita77777.posterous.com/community-asian-fat-tiger-woods-or-something ]
IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR 
I just came across your videos on YouTube and then your blog :) I am glad i did because I was stood behind you and wanted to apologise for any nudges you may have got from me being pushed behind and then accidentally hitting you when I tried to cram my hands into the small radius of space around me! Haha. I hope you didn’t dislike me too much! Also apologise for singing an octave higher to songs… I told myself to save my voice because at 10 this morning i was at rehearsal for We Will Rock you which I am taking part in …but I couldn’t contain myself because i was that excited so it just came out haha .I am glad you had a good time (It was the best night I have ever had) and i agree with everything you have said here.Luckily i’m one of those teen girls that has some self respect so stayed away from showing my boobies! (Attention seeking whores)Ps…You have AWESOME hair xx Bethan xx
Was there last night as well and it was an amazing night Credit where credit is due the Falling Red did play some good music but I agree with your point about the “jokes” they were making, it did come off as they were trying to hard to be accepted by the crowd, the thing about Steel Panther is that as well as being amazing musicians they are also pretty good actors so they are able to pull the whole act of and it just wasn’t the case for the Falling RedAgree with everything else you’ve said, easily the best live band out there and I only paid eighteen pound for my ticket, it’s scary to think that there are some artists/bands out there who charge over triple that and don’t even put on as half as good as show as Steel Panther do.One small little annoyance I did have however was Michael skipping/forgetting lines to some songs but that’s me just nitpicking
Bethan: I didn’t have a problem at all with anyone standing behind me. :)) I think I was just slightly annoyed with the two girls in front of me, because there was room for at least one more person there but they deliberately made sure that nobody got any closer. Don’t know why, they were talking more than they were watching the show anyhow. :-/ So, no problems at all with the people behind me – it’s always tough standing there with nothing to hold on to. And believe it or not, I didn’t even hear the singing until I uploaded the videos, lol! :) Do you live in Manchester or did you also travel to see the show? We will rock you, oh that is still playing? I saw it maybe four years ago because an old aquaintance, Neil Murray, was playing bass back then. Hope it goes well. :) And thank you so much for the hair-compliment! :D
Danny: I didn’t have a problem with Falling Red until that stupid “sex addict” and “drug addict”-comment. After that I lost all respect and waited for them to just finish their set. You know the saying – you only get one chance to make a first impression? They kind of blew it (seen from my personal point of view). It probably wouldn’t have been that bad if they had just walked out on stage and played – and taken themselves a bit less serious. :) A smile and a joke always works better. But you’re right, I’ve heard worse – but I’ve also heard better… ;)Good point with the ticket prices, it was definitely a fair price – especially considering what they brought to the Apollo (the cam/screens, Lexxi’s new makeup table/mirror and whatever else), Respect to Steel Panther!
Oh man, I wish I was there. It looks like they put in extra effort into this particular show, not to say that they don’t try in their other concerts, but they just put a little more into this one! When Michael gets his face blown with the smoke-puffing machine, that’s a real telling moment of what good showmen they are. Another “””rockstar””” might get angry and storm off the stage, throw a hissy fit maybe. Michael just picks up his hat and continues singing. Lovely.
I was there that night too! I’ve loved Steel Panther for AGES, but have never had a chance to get to their shows before. I was not disappointed. Amazing videos, far better than mine.. unfortunately I was up in the circle so my view wasn’t amazing. I quite liked Falling Red, but I agree they should have steered away from the sex jokes, it’s not always clear if they are joking or not… that’s Panther territory. I loved everything about Steel Panther’s set, they are by far the best band i’ve ever seen live, they just know how to put on a show! I loved the pre-show video (which you have up there in your vids!) and was so glad the Apollo is big enough to host the screens, lots of other venues Steel Panther have played on this tour just aren’t big enough to have them which is a shame, just proves that they are more suited to bigger gigs, why they aren’t at the MEN – I have no idea.I am an absolute die hard fan of Lexxi, couldn’t find him anywhere after the show though which was a pity :( I wanted to meet him so badly! If they tour next year I’m going to go meet them all even if I have to stand their all night.Another prob I had is, same as Bethan, I too was irritated by those idiot teenage girls that seem to go to these gigs. I don’t think we were the only ones at all, most people sat around me seemed to be too. I think they probably want to go just so they flash their bits in a theatre. I had some sat next to me who were very young, and were bitching about other people sat in the other seats around them and what they are wearing (ie those who dressed up) – which isn’t fair when there’s a whole heap of different people who love Steel Panther not just little wannabe rockers who think they’re hip because they’re wearing a Nirvana t shirt! I saw so many people updating their facebook during the show… insane!Anyway, the show was a bargain! Can’t believe the value for money you get with them, amazing! Will be going seeing them again! Thanks for the vids, it’s great to relive it!