Steel Panther & Wayward Sons @o2 Academy 8th February 2020
Opening up this evening Wayward Sons a band who isn’t shy of touring with many major rock bands. We last covered them supporting Black Star Riders only a few months ago and now here they are supporting Steel Panther. On paper it’s a bit of an odd mix, Toby Jepson (Wayward Sons) and his politically charged songs combined on a bill with Steel Panther who have a more anything goes mentality, and yet something just seems to work.
Wayward Sons get off to a slow start with the fans, a result of still being unknown to some of the audience. Despite the slower start, they command the stage throughout. Any Other Way and Don’t Wanna Go and are ever more active, they are like men half their age, a similarity with upcoming Steel Panther. Whilst the room is rammed and glammed it’s clear most of the audience are here for the main act. Wayward Sons try everything they can, throwing energetic Nic Wastell with his gurns and turns in a chaotic world of his own, and there is certainly enough happening on stage to keep the attention.
Crush, an earlier number for the band, got the crowd rocking along. Their latest album dropped towards the end of last year The Truth Ain’t What It Used to Be and as they play the title track the crowd are visibly enjoying it. Jepson announces “we’ve been Wayward Sons if you enjoyed what you heard then pick up a CD or come alone to our headline show which will be soon.” The plug is followed by Jokes on You, the catchy beat leading straight into the closing tune, Until the End. Wayward Sons brought great rock and roll energy which is sure to have captured more fans from tonight’s show. Something you would expect from a headline act.
Up next the band that everyone’s been waiting for, none other than Steel Panther. Ok so they are not everyone’s cup of tea, but here they are tonight, at a sold-out show. Opening with typical Steel Panther style they all enter to Van Halens Everybody Want Some, the greatest heavy metal band in heavy metal history and they go straight into Eyes of a Panther.
Satchel and Michael tell us about how hard they worked on this “All new” set which is identical to the last time we saw them in Manchester and they announce “Hey if you wanted good taste, You came to the wrong place” and they aren’t wrong.
Let Me Cum In starts the night, the rowdy fans rocking away and the band gesturing filth and fun to the girls. Cheeky waves is followed by a new track from their latest album Heavy Metal Rules All I Wanna Do is Fuck (Myself Tonight) and it is clear that tonight is way better than when they last played in Birmingham time. Asian hooker sees the set as raucous as ever.
We have a snippet from Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train which I’ve not seen before and it is hilarious, as Michael does a cracking impression of Ozzy as he walks about stage clapping for the crowd to join in, then shouting “Sharon” throughout his singing. We see Satchels epic solo and Stix does a Slash impression with one arm before slowing it down to catch their breath with I Ain’t Buying What You’re Selling.
A young girl is asked to join them on stage, tonight it will be Lizzie, she is serenaded by the band’s Weenie Ride one at a time. Stix comes down from the drums to play keys, Michael says to him, “Hey, if the dude who plays keys in Wayward Sons can get laid then you can too!”.
Following on the band then invite girls from the audience to join Lizzie on stage for Party All Day (Fuck All Night) and following into 17 Girls in a Row. This time Surreal Panther play a hilarious antic that sees an overweight Michael a younger Lexi and a Satchel that is less like Ben Stiller. Coming to a close, all the girls quickly try to get selfies with the band members while being ushered off the stage.
Closing tonight’s antics is the ballad Community Property and Death to All but Metal. This is typical end of set songs being their best, before all leaving the stage to come back to a single song encore. The only song that’s always played but hasn’t been yet, Gloryhole. Fans arms are in the air, a little mosh pit can be seen from the stage.
If you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all, though it’s the fans that can either enhance the enjoyment and excitement or destroy a show. You will still laugh as much as the first time you saw them and they really can play, perform and entertain which is what this game is all about.
A great night and I’m sure we will see Steel Panther again in the future
Set List
Everybody Wants Some!! (Van Halen song)
Eyes of a Panther
Let Me Cum In
All I Wanna Do Is Fuck (Myself Tonight)
Asian Hooker
Hair Solo
Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne cover) (Snippet)
Party Like Tomorrow Is the End of the World
Poontang Boomerang
Guitar Solo
Fuck Everybody
I Ain’t Buying What You’re Selling
Weenie Ride
Party All Day (Fuck All Night)
17 Girls in a Row (with Surreal Panther)
Community Property
Death to All but Metal
Encore:
Gloryhole
Review and Photos: Chris Bowley