Steel Panther and Moon Fever at the Fillmore in San Francisco

Steel Panther brought the party to San Francisco’s historic Fillmore Auditorium for a Friday night full of their trademark shenanigans. Indeed, the band had plenty to celebrate, namely the 15th anniversary of their debut album, Feel The Steel.

Seattle’s Moon Fever kicked the evening off promptly at 8 pm and tore through a 30 minute set where they did their darndest to win over a crowd that had zero familiarity with the up-and-comers. Hard-rocking with at various times hints of STP and Måneskin most certainly got the crowd’s attention as they readied themselves for the main event with copious cocktails, many dressed in their finest spandex.

By the time Steel Panther took the stage at 9 pm and launched into “Eyes of a Panther,” the Fillmore was respectably packed with what appeared to be appropriately-sauced San Franciscans ready for a good time. And as band introductions made way to “It Won’t Suck Itself,” it was legitimately surprising how many die-hards were in the crowd singing along to every word!

“Impromptu Song for a Girl” turned into an extended bit as the band invited Steel Panther first-timer Terry on stage where she endeared herself to both the band and the crowd as her Axel Rose look-alike partner watched from the crowd.

What makes Steel Panther work as a band is that they back up their drug-addled, aging hair metal schtick with some serious music chops and deliver. Unfortunately not everyone has an idea what they’re getting themselves into when they step into a Steel Panther concert. And while the woman dancing awkwardly on stage during “Asian Hooker” may have caused raised some eyebrows in the uninitiated, the dozens of women onstage (including some bared breasts) during “17 Girls in a Row” may have been the enough for several folks who headed towards the door.

For those that appreciate the humor, they got a 90 minute set that (not surprisingly) leaned heavily on Feel the Steel but left plenty of room for fan favorites across the remainder of the catalog including the evening’s closer, “Gloryhole.”

Missed the show? Well there are still plenty of opportunities to catch the Panther on their “Feel the Steel 15th Anniversary” Tour with US dates running through mid-April before the band heads to Canada and Europe in June.

Setlist