THOMAS S. ORWAT, JR.
North Tonawanda, NY—The Northern Exposure Tour capped off its 25-show run Sunday evening at the West Herr Riviera Theatre, delivering a high-energy finale. The tour, featuring glam-metal jokers Steel Panther, hard rockers Buckcherry, and special guest Kurt Deimer, blazed through Canada with a handful of U.S. stops along the way.
For the final show, the three bands played to a fired-up crowd of respectable size, bringing their unique brand of rock music to the stage. The turnout was impressive considering that headliners Steel Panther had performed in the area at Buffalo’s Electric City just last year, and all three bands had played the night before at a venue only 90 minutes away.
Ultimately, the pairing of Steel Panther and Buckcherry made for a stellar double bill. Steel Panther’s over-the-top, outrageous, and often jaw-dropping offensive, humor collided perfectly with Buckcherry’s raw energy and gritty street vibe. The result was more than just a concert—it was a one-of-a-kind celebration of everything that makes rock ‘n’ roll so much fun.
Steel Panther officially adopted its name in 2008, but the band had been active long before that, performing under previous monikers like Metal Shop, Danger Kitty, and Metal Skool. Steel Panther’s current lineup includes three original members: Michael Starr (Ralph Saenz) on vocals, Satchel (Russ Parrish) on guitar, and Stix Zadinia (Darren Leader) on drums. Their bassist, Spyder (Joe Lester), officially joined the band in September 2022, after previously filling in for former bassist Lexxi Foxx (Travis Haley), who departed in July 2021.
Steel Panther hit the stage in full force a bit after 9:30 PM, delivering a 12-song set packed with high-energy rock and flashy theatrics. With two stripper poles and female dancers adding to the spectacle, the scene was dripping with decadence. Along the way, Starr and Satchel traded plenty of crude jokes—often teasing each other in ways that played into their long-running onstage shtick. Between bursts of R-rated comedy, Michael Starr—who had celebrated his 60th birthday just one night prior—commanded the crowd, emulating the moves and stage banter of legendary frontmen like David Lee Roth and Vince Neil. Meanwhile, Satchel tore through blistering riffs and shredding solos, channeling the spirit of glam-metal’s greatest guitar icons.
Some of the standout moments of Steel Panther’s set included their performance of “Asian Hooker,” during which Buckcherry guitarist Stevie D. joined the band onstage, dancing and adding background vocals. Also, the band brought an audience member up on stage for the acoustic track “Girl From Oklahoma.” Steel Panther kept the crowd entertained with their hilarious back-and-forth about performing in North Tonawanda, NY, with Satchel jokingly declaring that North Tonawanda was far superior to South Tonawanda—which, of course, doesn’t actually exist.
For more on Steel Panther visit https://steelpanther.com/
Before Steel Panther’s performance, Buckcherry hit the stage at 8 p.m. in the middle slot of the night. Formed in 1999, the band is led by its sole remaining original member, frontman Josh Todd, whose unmistakable voice and commanding stage presence define Buckcherry’s identity. Alongside him is guitarist Stevie D., who has been part of the band since its 2005 relaunch—together, they form the dynamic duo that powers the band.
Rounding out the lineup are Kelly LeMieux on bass, Francis Ruiz on drums, and Billy Rowe on guitar, each bringing their own unique skills to Buckcherry’s relentless live performance. True road dogs, the band maintains a grueling touring pace, playing hundreds of shows across the globe year after year—solidifying their reputation as one of the hardest-working bands in rock music.
Buckcherry is gearing up to release their 11th studio album, Roar Like Thunder, on June 13th. Kicking off their set with the album’s first single and title track, “Roar Like Thunder,” they delivered a high-energy 71-minute set packed with fan favorites and must-play hits. For their second song, they unleashed their gritty, hard-rocking debut hit, “Lit Up,” from their 1999 album—always a surefire way to set the tone for a Buckcherry show.
Later in the set, frontman Todd enthusiastically declared, “Let’s go back 20 years,” as the band launched into “Onset,” a standout from” 15,” their most successful record to date.
Todd shrugged off his jacket, showing off his signature tattoos that covered his whole torso. Grinning, he grabbed the mic and shouted, “You crazy lunatics want more?” The band then ripped into “Keep on Fighting,” keeping the energy high.
A few songs later, Todd took a moment to address the crowd. “Everyone thinks ‘Crazy Bitch’ was our biggest song, but it wasn’t,” he explained. “This one was.” With that, the band launched into their top 40 hit, ‘Sorry,’ another standout from the hot filled record “15.”
The band closed out their set with the song everyone associates with Buckcherry- “Crazy Bitch.” But they didn’t just stick to their own catalog; during the performance, they seamlessly mixed in covers of “Sex Machine,” “Bad Girls,” “Irresistible Bitch,” and “Proud Mary,” each infused with their signature style. Todd took a moment to introduce the band members, giving everyone their time in the spotlight with a solo, wrapping up the night with the crowd in a frenzy.
Buckcherry will be kicking off their headlining tour starting later this week in support of “Roar Like Thunder.” Tour dates are available at https://www.buckcherry.com/
Starting the evening off was Horror movie actor and vocalist Kurt Deimer, whose 30-minute set effectively warmed up the crowd for the main event. A natural performer, he kept the audience engaged throughout, even stepping off the stage midway to shake hands with fans while continuing to sing. His take on Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar” was met with an enthusiastic response, and by the time his set wrapped up, many in the audience were on their feet, applauding in approval.
For more on Kurt Deimer please visit https://www.kurtdeimer.com/
Overall, this was another great show at the amazing West Herr Riviera Theater. To see more upcoming shows please visit https://rivieratheatre.org/
Steel Panther setlist
Eyes of a Panthering
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
Buckcherry setlist
Roar Like Thunder
Lit Up
So Hott
Onset
Ridin’
Keep on Fighting
Let’s Get Wild
Say Fuck It
Out of Line
Come On
Gluttony
Sorry
Good Time
Tight Pants
Crazy Bitch / Sex Machine / Bad Girls / Irresistible Bitch / Proud Mary / Crazy Bitch
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Thomas S. Orwat Jr.
RockMusicStar.com 
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