Page 58 - Black Velvet Magazine Issue 108

BV108 concerts pg 58-61 Steel Panther.qxp_BV108 pg 58 18/06/2023 15:00 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 58
STEEL PANTHER – BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY, 18.05.23
Bands and concerts that make you laugh continuously are
a rare breed. Most take themselves very seriously, which is no
bad thing, but it’s always refreshing when a band is downright
fun and frolicsome. We all need a bit of humour once in a while.
And, with new album ‘On The Prowl’ released in Feb 2023, Cal-
ifornian rockers Steel Panther get to go on a huge worldwide
prowl themselves, delivering their naughty sex, drugs and rock
‘n’ roll humour to rock fans across the globe.
The album artwork covers the back of the stage, it’s very
neon – pink, red, orange, purple and metallic blue. And, when
the bright lights turn on as the band enter the stage, it’s a fab-
ulous treat. Michael Starr on vocals, Satchel on guitar and Stix
Zadinia on drums are now joined by new bassist Spyder. ‘Eyes
Of A Panther’ is the perfect opener, considering a giant panther
is looking out from the backdrop. It’s immediately uplifting and
vibrant. Michael, Satchel and Spyder are all great showmen at
the front of the stage, while Stix keeps the beat at the back.
‘Let Me Cum In’ is a bouncy blast, Michael Starr swirls his mic
stand around and bends backwards to stretch out some high
notes, before Satchel and Spyder join him in the middle of the
stage.
The between-song banter soon starts with Satchel telling
Spyder, “I can’t remember your name.” With Winger being the
support band, Satchel also makes a joke about Kip Winger’s
sperm. “Boobies!” they exclaim, when they notice a girl on
someone’s shoulders in the audience lifting her top. “Spyder is
new to the band. He’s never seen titties before in all of the
bands he’s played in,” says Satchel.
Satchel introduces Michael to the audience, telling the
crowd he pulled his career out of the fire. “He was in a Poison
tribute band back then. It was called ‘Open Up And Say Aaah-
ful’”. He introduces Spyder, telling the crowd “He’s got some
very big gay shoes to fill.”

CONCERTS