Photos and Review by Chris Besaw
The Summer Season is just around the corner in Upstate NY. Warmer weather goes hand in hand with ice cold beers, BBQ, and concerts. What a fun way to kick off the season with Steel Panther at the del Lago Casino and Resort. Fans broke out their leather jackets, teased up their hair and donned wigs for one wild show that I won’t soon forget.
Kicking off the evening was the astonishing and high energy California hard rock band, Buckcherry. With an intro pumping through the speakers, Josh Todd and band took the stage, and the night was off and running, leading off with “Roar Like Thunder.” Josh Todd (lead vocals), along with Stevie D (Lead & Rhythm guitars, backup vocals), Kelly LeMieux (Bass), Francis Ruiz (drums) and Billy Rowe (Lead & Rhythm guitars, backup vocals) played a great mix from Buckcherry’s 25-year catalog of hits including favorites such as, “Lit Up,” “Ridin,” and “Sorry.” For a band I haven’t seen live in a while, I must give Josh Todd and company a lot of respect for they still put on a great show and know how to get a crowd fired up.
I enjoy how his raspy vocals compliments the gritty sound that Buckcherry is known for. After about a 50-minute set, the band finished with a medley of their monster hits, “Crazy Bitch, Sex Machine, Bad Girls, Irresistible Bitch, and Proud Mary.” I was amazed at how Josh Todd sounded on the medley especially during the James Brown classic “Sex Machine,” and CCR’s “Proud Mary,” he showcased his vocal range, and it sounded great! Even though I would have liked to hear more from them it was time to make room for the evenings’ headliner.
Setlist
Roar Like Thunder
Lit Up
So Hott
Let It Burn
Ridin’
Say Fuck It
Come On
Sorry
Crazy Birch/Sex Machine/Bad Girls/Irresistible Bitch/Proud Mary/Crazy Bitch
The stage went dark as the crew worked quickly to set up the stage while the crowd was getting riled up for Steel Panther. Once the stage was set, a very hilarious and strange intro pumped through the speakers providing a hint for what was in store. Steel Panther then charged the stage all decked out in classic glam and metal attire ripping into “Eyes of a Panther,” while two strippers danced on the poles to the song. The band is currently rocking out on their Norther Exposure Tour 2025 and band members Mike Starr (vocals), Spyder (bass), Satchel (guitars), and Stix Zadinia (drums) were there to party with the fans at del Lago!
I really don’t get tired of seeing these guys play because not only are they a bunch of incredibly talented musicians, but they know how to entertain a crowd. You get both a comedy and metal show at the same time! Vocalist Mike Starr is a great singer and some of his stage antics and banter are downright hilarious. Some of my favorite bits from the night were Mike Starr egging on drummer Stix to do his impersonation of Rick Allen of Def Leppard. To be honest even with one arm, Stix can still pound the drums without messing up and make it sound good! One of the raunchier and expected bits by the band was guitarist Satchel playing with and torturing singer Mike Starr with a rather large black dildo before going into the satirical and tongue in cheek song about golfer Tiger Woods, simply titled “Just Like Tiger Wood.” Another crazy moment was when Spyder started handing out his homemade boobie candies which he claimed, “have an obscene amount of cocaine in them.”
Not only was the band celebrating the anniversary of their album, Feel the Steel, but it was also lead singer Mike Starr’s birthday. The staff at del Lago and the members of Buckcherry brought a birthday cake onstage and the entire place sang “Happy Birthday” to Starr. Starr even got a big hug from Josh Todd.
After an exciting and fun set of pure party metal, Mike Starr and company thanked everyone for partying with them and left the stage, leaving the fans wanting more. If you haven’t seen them, I would highly recommend it, they don’t disappoint and they know how to throw one hell of party!
Setlist:
Eyes of a Panther
It Won’t Suck itself
Asian Hooker
Just Like Tiger Woods
Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)
Girl from Oklahoma
17 Girls in a Row
Party Like Tomorrow Is the End of the World
Community Property
Death to All but Metal
Glory Hole
