Photos by David Rubene
I was genuinely excited for last night’s show. Was I exhausted? Of course. I’m on a bit of a bender with no end in sight and, like usual, housework is piling up with no time to get it all done. That being said, after meeting a friend for dinner and some margaritas before the show, I was more than prepared for what the night was going to bring. I was ready to see two favorite bands – Steel Panther and my hometown hero that I used to worship as a child- Corey Taylor and Stone Sour. I walked into The Myth bright eyed and bushy tailed ready for the show to begin.
As the lights dimmed, Steel Panther hit the stage. The glam metal band has quite an appeal that I’ve become quite fond of having seen them a couple of times now. The four members of Steel Panther all have larger than life personalities that are exaggerated ideas of what a 80’s glam metal band would be like. With “the pretty one” (Lexxi Foxx) constantly checking in his hand mirror to fix his hair and make up and womanizer singer Michael Starr, Steel Panther’s live show is one that always has me laughing to the point where it hurts. Their shtick seems a bit rehearsed but that doesn’t take away from the way that all of the members have personalities that shine brighter than the glittery scarves that dangled from their skin-tight pants.
Hailing from Los Angeles (no shocker there), Steel Panther has five albums out. Some people think that they are a cover band because of the whole act but they are far from. With more original songs than some of the bands I cover, Steel Panther is actually a super talented band. I’m always struck by Michael Starr’s incredible voice. He can hit the highest of falsettos with a sense of ease that can have your jaw on the floor. The guitar solos aren’t just cheap play fast and loud solos, they are well thought out and designed solos that truly highlight the talent of guitarist Satchel. Is their show and look completely over the top and out of control? Yes. Would I have it any other way? No. It’s absolutely perfect and, if you have never had a chance to experience Steel Panther live, I urge you to change that.
The stage was turned over and then, after just a little delay, the headlining act took the stage and the crowd instantly starting cheering. Stone Sour is fronted by Corey Taylor of Slipknot. For those of you who have been living under a rock, Slipknot is from Iowa making Corey Taylor a true hometown hero for me. He was my idol for so many reasons including him getting the hell out of Iowa while never forgetting where his roots are. I remember the times when I was in my early teens and he would walk into the record shop I was working at. He always had a smile on his face and a personality that could light up the darkest room. I was always much more of a Slipknot fan than any other side project that the nine men in that band started. I loved the brutality and intensity of it. Unfortunately, Slipknot wasn’t in town last night, Stone Sour was, and that’s as close as I was going to get to curing some of the homesickness I have going on right now. As soon as the band hit the stage and I saw the familiar face of Corey Taylor, I felt a sense of comfort that I didn’t know I needed.
I will say that it was a little odd to see Corey Taylor– the singer of Slipknot– shooting colorful confetti at the crowd but it definitely put a smile on my face. Throughout Stone Sour’s fourteen song set and three song encore, there was a sense of energy and intensity that only Corey and his friends can bring to the table. The music of Stone Sour may be waves calmer than that of Slipknot and the look may be a immensely less sinister but that didn’t stop Stone Sour’s show from bring explosive and powerful. Drummer Roy Mayorga blasted through the songs with power and clarity while the other four members stormed across the stage throughout the set. Now, this is what I had signed up for. This was a rock show. This was a concert.
With an undeniable sense of passion and emotion radiating off the stage, I was more than happy with my decision to stick it out through the bullshit at the beginning of last night’s show. I watched from the back as the crowd pushed and shoved their way into a sweaty mosh pit while the lights flashed and spiraled out of control. Unfortunately, knowing that my way home was closed due to construction and I would have to get creative with my route which would undeniably add a half hour to my drive, and the exhaustion I was feeling on top of that, I headed out a little bit early. I wasn’t happy with the way my night had gone but, I can’t deny that Stone Sour definitely turned it around.
