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Steel Panther Bring Glam, Gags, and Guitars to Hollywood Casino Words and Photos by Michael Sprouse/ Odd Rocker Photography

Walking into the Hollywood Casino events center on a Friday night already feels like stepping into a neon-fueled fever dream, but throw Steel Panther into the mix and suddenly it’s not just a concert — it’s a circus where sleaze, sarcasm, and serious chops collide.

Seriously, when Steel Panther rolls into town, the line between casino kitsch and Sunset Strip sleaze blurs until you can’t tell if you’re in West Virginia or at some forgotten LA club where eyeliner, spandex, and excess are still the dress code.

I’ve seen Steel Panther before, but every time feels different, like they’ve sharpened their parody blade just enough to slice a little deeper into the absurdity of rock culture while still, somehow, delivering the kind of arena-ready performance that half the current touring bands couldn’t touch if they tried.

The band have made a career out of parodying the absurdity of ‘80s glam metal, but let’s be real: Steel Panther are too good at what they do to write off as a joke. They’re a tight, muscular rock band with chops that would embarrass most of the groups they lampoon. And on Friday, they proved again why their mix of comedy, crude theatrics, and face-melting musicianship works as both satire and spectacle.

Before a single note rang out on Sept. 12, the atmosphere was already buzzing. Fans rolled in wearing wigs, fishnets, leopard print, and more than a few mullets that straddled the line between costume and reality. The room definitely felt like it had been set to “party.”

Then the lights dropped and the band hit the stage with “Eyes of a Panther,” a song that immediately set the tone: fast, loud, full of innuendo. Michael Starr prowled the stage, strutting like a frontman who never got the memo that 1989 ended. Satchel, guitar slung low, fired off solos as casually as some people order a drink. Stix Zadinia sat grinning behind the kit, holding it all together, while Spyder (their bassist and de facto newest member) locked in the groove with practiced ease.

Watch Steel Panther perform “Eyes of a Panther” live from the On the Prowl World Tour via YouTube:

Steel Panther’s setlist is basically a checklist of raunchy anthems, sentimental fake-outs, and classic rock teases — designed for maximum chaos. After the opener, they tore into “Tomorrow Night,” a cheeky ode to procrastinated partying, before dropping into “Asian Hooker.” It’s offensive, ridiculous, and still one of their sharpest parody songs because it leans all the way into glam metal’s worst impulses.

“Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)” had the audience chanting along, half-laughing, half-belting the chorus, while “Friends with Benefits” leaned into that weird middle ground Steel Panther love to occupy: technically a love song, but also a send-up of every overblown power rocker from the MTV era.

Then came “Girl From Oklahoma.” This one’s always a crazy moment — Starr crooning with mock sincerity, the crowd howling the obscene lyrics like it’s some lost Poison ballad. It’s silly, sure, but you could see that’s the strange magic of Steel Panther: songs that are written as jokes somehow end up feeling oddly heartfelt when you’re screaming them in a packed room.

If you’ve never been to a Steel Panther show, the banter isn’t filler, it’s half the show. Between songs, they riff on each other, the crowd, and whatever local quirks they can latch onto. Satchel’s humor is razor-sharp and he constantly had the whole room in stitches.

Halfway through the set, during “17 Girls in a Row,” their tradition continued: women from the crowd were invited on stage. At some shows, a handful make the leap. In Charles Town? It looked like two dozen. Suddenly, the stage was a storm of denim shorts, teased hair, tattoos, and unfiltered joy. Starr tried to wrangle it, Satchel cracked jokes and Stix drummed through it like it was just another night at the office.

It was messy, loud, and maybe a little too much for security to handle, but that’s the point. Steel Panther shows thrive on barely controlled chaos.

“Eatin’ Ain’t Cheatin’” walked the line between parody and legitimate singalong, Starr’s vocals surprisingly tender until you remember what he’s singing about.

Then came “Community Property.” Honestly, there’s no describing how much this one lands live unless you’ve seen it. The whole room sang the chorus like it was gospel, people swaying, arms raised, smiling at strangers. Yes, it’s obscene. Yes, it’s a parody. But in that moment, it felt genuine, like the band tapped into some primal need for catharsis through shared laughter and volume.

Watch the official music video for “Community Property” by Steel Panther on YouTube:

Satchel’s guitar solo might have been the most jaw-dropping part of the night. While also playing beats on the drums, he stitched together riffs from Metallica, Van Halen, AC/DC, and then, as laughter rolled across the room, he launched into Ozzy’s “Crazy Train.” — complete with tapping sequences that would make Eddie Van Halen smile. You forget sometimes that these guys are world-class musicians first, comedians second.

The set closed with their twin titans: “Death to All But Metal” and “Gloryhole.”

“Death to All But Metal” is their mission statement, really — a bratty anthem mocking pop, hip hop, and anything that isn’t loud and ridiculous. The crowd shouted the chorus so hard you could feel it in your ribs.

And then “Gloryhole” ended the night in a way only Steel Panther could: completely obscene, completely absurd, and somehow one of the catchiest songs of the last 15 years. Guitars roared, lights flared, and the room dissolved into one final, euphoric singalong.

Steel Panther gets dismissed sometimes as a novelty act, but seeing them live makes that argument evaporate. They’re comedians, yes. They’re satirists, absolutely. They’re filthy, offensive, and over the top, but they’re also one of the tightest rock bands you’ll see on a stage this year.

There’s something oddly comforting about knowing a band like this exists in 2025 — a band willing to be offensive, outrageous, and loud in a time when everything feels so sanitized. They remind you of why glam metal existed in the first place: because sometimes you just need to laugh, scream, and party until you can’t feel your face.

Setlist

Eyes of a Panther Tomorrow Night Asian Hooker Fat Girl (Thar She Blows) Friends with Benefits Girl From Oklahoma 17 Girls in a Row Eatin’ Ain’t Cheatin’ Crazy Train (cover tease) Death to All But Metal Community Property Gloryhole

Here are some photos of Steel Panther performing live at Hollywood Casino on Sept. 12, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Michael Sprouse/ Odd Rocker Photography.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Highways is reviewing feedback collected during a public workshop held Tuesday, August 5, 2025, on the proposed West Washington Street improvement project in Charles Town, Jefferson County.

The meeting, hosted at the Betty J. Roper Auditorium at Wright Denny Intermediate School, drew residents, business owners and local officials interested in the planned upgrades. The open-house format allowed attendees to view project displays, speak directly with WVDOH engineers and planners, and share comments and concerns.

Proposed improvements focus on increasing roadway safety and capacity at the intersection of West Washington Street, Summit Point Road, and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The project also aims to enhance pedestrian safety and bicycle mobility throughout the corridor, supporting the long-term growth of the Charles Town area.

Crash data from 2017 to 2021 was reviewed to determine how often crashes occurred, their types and whether patterns existed. Over the five-year period, there were 51 crashes in the project area, with about 29 percent resulting in injuries. Of these, 23 occurred at the intersection of WV 51 and County Route 340/18 (Augustine Avenue), and 10 occurred at the intersection of WV 51 and County Route 13 (Summit Point Road). When compared with similar roadways across West Virginia, the crash rate in this area is nearly 2.5 times higher than the state average.

“We value the input we received from the community,” said Doug Kirk, director of the WVDOH Technical Support Division. “The feedback gathered at the meeting will be carefully considered as we move forward with design and construction planning.”

Residents who could not attend the workshop may submit written comments through Friday, September 3, 2025, at http://go.wv.gov/dotcomment.

With work continuing in all 55 counties across the state, the West Virginia Division of Highways and the West Virginia Department of Transportation remind the public of the importance of keeping everyone safe in work zones. “Respect the zone; let’s all go home!”

*From WVDOH Press Release