Steel Panther (with support from Blue Ruin)
26th June 2016
The Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand
Words and photography by Doug Peters.
I had first heard of Steel Panther when they appeared on an episode of LA Ink many years ago. They came across as a bunch of hilarious guys who also perform music, and as such I was quickly a firm fan! You can imagine how excited I was when I heard they would be hitting Auckland for a one off show – and the fact they had one of my favourite local acts, Blue Ruin, as the support was the icing on the top.
Needless to say, Blue Ruin were amazing and tore apart the stage with their mix of riot grrrl punk and old school thrash metal and Steel Panther were, well, they were Steel Panther. The comedy value was high, but they still manage to be really amazing musicians at the same time. Sure they could be called a novelty act, but that novelty works for them and they are just as good, if not better than the many hair metal acts they are emulating and often making fun of (Mötley Crüe, I’m looking in your direction).
If you ever get the chance to see them, take that opportunity with both hands, don your best big hair or mullet wig and party like it’s 1985 all over again!
Equipment: Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Canon EOS-M3; Canon EF 50mm f1.2L, Canon EFs 10-18mm f3.5-5.6, Sigma EX 20mm f1.8
Blue Ruin
Steel Panther
Did you catch this amazing performance at the Powerstation? Or have you seen Steel Panther or Blue Ruin at another one of their shows? Tell me about it in the comments below!
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