Steel Panther at Mill City Nights, 7/27/2012

Photo by Steve Cohen

See Also:
Slideshow: Steel Panther at Mill City Nights
The Brick is now called Mill City Nights [PHOTOS]

Steel Panther
With Throw the Fight
Mill City Nights, Minneapolis
Friday, July 27, 2012

Booze, boobs, and '80s rock music: if you weren't in the mood for these three things, then Mill City Nights, formerly The Brick, was not the place for you Friday night. Steel Panther, known for their profane version of rock music that parodies bands from the hair metal era, played and entertained to a sold out crowd ready to party.

To dissect a Steel Panther song isn't digging too deep -- all of their pieces are about sex, bringing to mind the era when being a rock star was about mystery and groupies. Even these days, most guys start bands with the intention of getting women -- they're just not as overt about it.

Introduced to a dark stage with a dramatic, Darth Vader-like voice, the band in all their glory of skin-tight pants and flowing hair, opened with the driving "Supersonic Sex Machine." Part concert and part comedy show, the band made an integral effort to engage the audience with in-between song banter, with lead singer Michael Starr welcoming the crowd to the "greatest show on earth; we're Steel Panther. Technically we're not the greatest show on earth; that's Barnum and Bailey."

No race was safe from heckling by the band. They spotted a black man in the back and exclaimed, "It's fucking awesome cause we're bringing metal to all the races. Wait, there's a black man in front of us. Be careful, cause all the people in this area are going to get their stuff stolen." The band invited two Asian women onstage for "Asian Hooker," leading Starr to clarify that the this is the age of political correctness, and they women were Asian sluts, not hookers.

Photo by Steve Cohen

Outside of the blatantly misogynistic lyrics, the band's music follows the formula of shred guitar solos and catchy hooks, exhibited in "Turn Out the Lights" and "Community Property." Speaking of guitar solos, lead guitarist Satchel was given the stage for his medley guitar solo, which included a him performing on the bass drum, although it was off beat at certain times.

Inviting a group of women onstage, and almost one dude, for "Party All Day (Fuck All Night)" and "It Won't Suck Itself," the stage was reminiscent of the scene from Shallow Hal where Jack Black is partying at the nightclub with Jason Alexander. Honestly, the whole evening had a surreal sheen to it and could have been a scene from Wayne's World. These feelings could all be enhanced or dulled by liquor -- whichever you prefer.

Critic's bias: I was aware enough that the sexist act was tongue-in-cheek to not be offended by the group, but unless you are familiar with the music, there's only so much you can do with every song being about sucking dicks to keep my attention.

The crowd: Bros and superfans dressed up in '80s glam.

Overheard in the crowd: "The top button of my pants just had its opening ceremony."

Random notebook dump: Out of context, my notes taken for the night should not be left lying around. I think I will burn them once done with this piece.

Setlist

Supersonic Sex Machine
Tomorrow Night
Fat Girl (That She Blows)
Asian Hooker
Just Like Tiger Woods
Guitar solo
Turn Out the Lights
Community Property
Eyes of a Panther
Party All Day (Fuck All Nght)
It Won't Suck Itself
Death To All But Metal

Encore
Eatin' Ain't Cheatin'
17 Girls in a Row

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