On a night that could easily have been a real-life enactment of This Is Spinal Tap, Steel Panther took things to the next level with their unapologetically explicit humour. From poking fun at older glam rock bands to delivering a barrage of crude jokes, it was a nod to a bygone era when taboo subjects weren’t censored and outrageous content reigned supreme.

Black Sonic Pearls wasted no time in getting Manchester fired up and ready to teleport back to the golden age of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. As soon as Arseniy Borodin ran onstage, the classic face of rock revealed itself in the most unapologetic way possible. Sporting a backwards cap, bandana and sunglasses, he embodied the kind of frontman who wanted his support band to leave the stage with their heads held high after earning a warm welcome from the visiting crowd. His character and swagger were made for the cameras, while his ability to switch between different vocal textures was equally impressive. During a cover of Michael Jackson’s Earth Song, he nailed Michael’s timbre while adding his own heavier edge, and it sounded awesome. Manchester sang along to almost the entire song as loudly as the Holy Name of Jesus Church opposite the Academy on a Sunday.

The rest of the band also excelled at the task at hand. Sergey Polyanskiy delivered some satisfyingly crunchy riffs and tasteful solos that put a grin on plenty of faces, while Mike Kiriushchenko’s drumming was spot on, driving every groove with confidence to set the tone for what was to come and leave fans excited for the main event.

Kelsey Karter & The Heroines completely flipped the evening on its head with slower tempos and a more rebellious feel. Kelsey Karter (lead singer) was the star of the show. Channeling her inner bad-girl attitude through seductive movements and the way she spoke, she brought back shades of Joan Jett and Amy Winehouse, two women who simply gave critics the finger and followed their own path. She spoke about how hard it is to be a woman in the music industry and her journey to rise above those who had written her off. As soon as she picked up a guitar, as if her voice wasn’t authoritative enough already, you could feel her presence grow even stronger. Having seen Kelsey and the rest of the band support Halestorm last year, I can confirm these guys mean serious business, and on a smaller stage it felt even more personal.

Guitarist Matt Peach was having the time of his life, with a smile that never faded—a sign of someone who plays with their soul from start to finish. Charisma aside, he played extremely well, showing off the full extent of his repertoire, whether it was gentle picking or roaring solos. By the time they left the stage, the crowd had been warmed up perfectly for the chaos that was about to follow.

Try all you like, but you just won’t win. Since day one, Steel Panther have always stirred the pot with crude sexual humour, and no matter how hard critics have tried to cancel them, they’ve always emerged victorious. Whether it was girls flashing their nipples onstage or outrageous jokes about band members shagging each other’s mothers and partners, nothing was off limits as the LA quartet set about getting a laugh out of Manchester. Having last toured the UK in 2023, as if things weren’t hot enough then, they returned with an extra treat—pole dancers—which unsurprisingly got a tidal wave of satisfied grins from, well… you know who.

Satchel (guitar) and Michael (vocals) have built one of the best onstage partnerships you’ll ever see. It’s like watching a pantomime, but with darker humour that leaves people in stitches. Satchel’s improvisation, whether he’s provoking Michael or throwing in a perfectly timed joke, is what makes him the driving force behind the band’s onstage banter. Michael then returns the favour with antics of his own, to the point where it’s more than just a concert—it’s a stand-up comedy show at the same time. While many may argue that this running joke gets old quickly and that they talk too much, it’s all part of the fun.

At some point, though, there has to be musical talent to back it all up and, rest assured, there’s plenty of that on offer. Michael, at the ripe old age of 61, is defying the odds. His mannerisms, yelps and husky voice brought back shades of David Lee Roth, not to mention the incredible stamina he showed by running around all night without breaking a sweat. Satchel’s guitar wizardry was another iconic throwback to the old days, with lengthy solos triggering memories of Eddie Van Halen’s Eruption tapping and shredding masterclass for those lucky enough to have witnessed it live. Drummer Stix got the party going by laying down infectious grooves, whether at jogging or walking pace. As long as it got fans dancing or waving their arms, you knew he was hitting the sweet spot.

Steel Panther have outdone themselves once again in just how many limits they can push, and love them or hate them, there’s no denying they know how to put one hell of a show on. Having the ability to keep people laughing after all these years is no easy feat, but they’ve clearly got the knack for it. The smiles and laughter from fans, both onstage and off, said everything about why Steel Panther remain one of the most entertaining live acts around.