Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2014
City: Chicago, IL
Venue: House Of Blues
Opening act(s): Like A Storm
Headlining act: Steel Panther
Like A Storm Setlist:
Chemical Infatuation
Never Surrender
Just Save Me
Gangsta’s Paradise
Enemy
Wish You Hell
T.N.T.
Love The Way You Hate Me
Steel Panther Setlist:
Pussywhipped
Tomorrow Night
Asian Hooker
Just Like Tiger Woods
Eyes Of A Panther
Gangbang At The Old Folks Home
If I Was The King
Turn Out The Lights
Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World
The Stocking Song
Girl From Oklahoma
17 Girls In A Row
Gloryhole
Death To All But Metal
———————
Community Property
Party All Day (Fuck All Night)
Notes:
- First time seeing “Pussywhipped,” “Gangbang At The Old Folks Home,” “If I Was The King,” “Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World,” “The Stocking Song,” and “Gloryhole” live.
- “The Stocking Song” was released on December 8, just eight days before this show.
- Opening band Like A Storm covered AC/DC’s “TNT” in their set, meaning two straight Steel Panther opening bands covered that song since Hillbilly Herald also covered it in 2013.
- Show #5 at this venue; first since April 27, 2012.
Videos:
Review:
If I hadn’t been working on my list of Album Of The Year nominees, I probably wouldn’t have ended up going to this show.
But since I was doing ‘research’ for that post (and ultimately the award, to be given at the end of this month), I had listened to Steel Panther’s most recent album All You Can Eat a few times and it got me all fired up to see them. I hate driving to Chicago, especially when driving directly into the heart of the city. I hadn’t done so since 2012 for my very first Steel Panther show.
I couldn’t pass up the chance to see them and really wanted to see some of the new songs live. I had the days off work, so why the hell not?
I hit the road with Brittany shortly before 1:00. We were making good time, but naturally we got to the outskirts of Chicago just before the 5:00 rush hour was about to commence. And since I had made the mistake of drinking (iced) coffee before we hit the road, I had to piss like hell. Traffic was moving crazy slow, getting worse the closer we got to the city.
Whenever I go to Chicago, I can’t help but stare up at the buildings. Not in wonder, but to pick out the main places featured in my favorite movie, The Dark Knight. Many are easy to find. Of course there’s the Willis Tower, where Batman stood while trying to pinpoint the Joker’s next move. Wayne Enterprises is easily spotted, as is Bruce’s penthouse. I even got to take a quick gander down La Salle, which is the street where Batman flipped the Joker’s semi. I also crossed Wacker Drive, where Harvey’s prison motorcade was diverted to Lower Wacker.
I tried to distract myself with the Batman themed sight-seeing, but it didn’t work. So then I climbed into the back of Brittany’s car to attempt to pee into a Potbelly soda cup, but that didn’t work either. Being in the middle of rush hour traffic in a cramped back seat were too much for my pee-nerves.
We parked in one of the many garages, took a detour into the hotel lobby so I could pee, then made our way to the House Of Blues.
As much as I hate the process of getting in and out of Chicago, I love this venue. It was the first place I ever went to for a ‘small’ show, when I saw Fuel here in 2003. Before that, I had only ever been to arenas and amphitheaters. I returned to the House Of Blues to see Fuel again in 2004, saw Trapt there in 2006, and as previously mentioned, saw my first Steel Panther show there in 2012. It’s a great venue.
Despite being my fifth time at the venue, it was the first time I went into the restaurant portion. Brittany and I decided to get a snack there while waiting, which also granted us early access to the venue. So we ate some overpriced appetizers before heading in at 7:00.
We wound up right up front, between Michael Starr’s mic stand and Lexxi Foxx’s mic stand. I knew that meant Brittany would be getting plenty of attention from the band. Just comes with the territory when seeing a Steel Panther show.
The place filled up pretty quickly, which made the hour and a half wait between the doors opening and the opening band taking the stage that much more annoying. Finally at 8:30, Like A Storm came on with a freakin’ didgeridoo solo… They are from New Zealand, but still. Didn’t expect to ever see that at a rock concert.
I’ve certainly seen worse opening bands and got some mild enjoyment out of them, which is about all I can ask from someone I’ve never heard of. But I think three of the four band members (the singer/guitarist, lead guitarist/co-lead singer, and bass player) went to the Bret Michaels’ School Of Clichéd Stage Banter, because they ALL took turns saying the SAME SHIT over and over and over again. The only quiet one was the drummer, who must have passed on the Bret Michaels school to attend Justin Bieber Fashion Camp.
Their show ended up featuring THREE didgeridoo solos and, in another WTF moment, a cover of Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise.” Which actually wasn’t half bad. They also threw in a cover of AC/DC’s “TNT,” which incidentally was also covered by the opening band at the last Steel Panther show I saw, Hillbilly Herald in 2013.
The singer jumped down off the stage twice, getting right up in front of us and at one point, actually jumping into the crowd (thanks to me, since I had to help him over the barricade).
A 30 minute changeover took place after the opener’s 45 minute set, and Steel Panther hit the stage with the opening tune from All You Can Eat, “Pussywhipped.” Not surprisingly, Michael Starr was quick to notice Brittany and chose ME to point out as being pussywhipped. “You know what I’m talking about!” he said as he pointed…
We got plenty of attention throughout the night; Brittany, due to her amazing boobies, and me, for being with her and singing along to every song – including the new ones.
My personal favorite, “Tomorrow Night” came second, before a long banter/introduction session broke out. It was hilarious as always.
Three classics followed: “Asian Hooker,” “Just Like Tiger Woods,” and “Eyes Of A Panther.”
Finally, it was time for some new material. “Gangbang At The Old Folks Home” was first and sounded awesome, despite the fact that the solo wasn’t quite up to par with what Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell did on the studio version. That song segued directly into “If I Was The King,” which isn’t one of my favorite new tracks but rocked live.
“Turn Out The Lights” and “Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World” followed before the entire band, including drummer Stix Zadinia, came front and center.
Satchel strapped on an acoustic guitar while Lexxi & Stix handled kazoo duties (with Stix also doing some light percussion) for just the fifth live performance of “The Stocking Song,” which had just been released on iTunes eight days before this show.
Never thought I’d see a rock concert that featured a didgeridoo and a kazoo!
Michael mentioned the show was being recorded, so I’m not sure if they’re planning on a live album or some live tracks being released online or what. Hopefully something comes from it though.
Feel The Steel classic “Girl From Oklahoma” came next and featured two women getting up on stage to whip out their tits and make out while the band played. Amusingly, after being told to make out while the band played the final chorus, they only kissed for a moment and stopped. So Michael stopped the song to ask if they understand English, then had them resume making out while they finished off the song.
The main set came to a close with rockers “17 Girls In A Row,” “Gloryhole,” and “Death To All But Metal” before a brief encore.
The band returned for “Community Property,” which featured such a loud sing-along from the crowd that even Michael Starr couldn’t believe it. As a veteran of rock concerts (this is my 68th), I’m plenty used to loud singing from crowds. But to hear the crowd singing such raunchy lyrics is always funny. And I was right there with them.
Unfortunately, I got a little distracted during the middle part of the song, as a fight broke out directly to my left and I had to brace for impact while protecting Brittany from any collateral damage as the security guards pulled out the stupid mother fuckers causing the problem.
The show came to a close with “Party All Night (Fuck All Day),” which was another in a long line of really loud crowd sing-alongs.
Steel Panther never fails to deliver, and it was great to hear some of the new songs live. I missed classics like “Eatin’ Ain’t Cheatin’,” “Fat Girl (Thar She Blows),” “If You Really Really Love Me,” and “Gold Digging Whore,” and my two favorite new songs (“She’s On The Rag” and “Bukkake Tears”) weren’t played… But I can’t complain about this show.
It rocked.
Media Review:
Links:
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