Last Friday KK’s Steel Mill hosted a tightly packed, high-impact bill of classic sleaze rock, with a double header of Finnish icon Michael Monroe and LA sleaze legends Buckcherry, both returning to KK’s after a few years away.
Rubicon opened the night with a burst of raw intent, frontman Jae Sims all attitude and restless energy at the centre of a set that never stopped moving. Their frantic, tightly wound vibe immediately grabbed attention, with new track ‘Stack and Jack’ offering a sharp taste of an album due out later this year.
Michael Monroe
Michael Monroe’s live performance was a masterclass in controlled chaos, powered by an energy level that simply never dipped. From the moment the band tore into the classic opener ‘Dead, Jail or Rock ’n’ Roll’, Monroe was in constant motion—pacing, leaping, and swinging his microphone so wildly that a dedicated cable-wrangling roadie trailed him throughout the set, earning more than a little sympathy from the crowd. The pace barely paused as the second song, ‘Motorvatin’, ended with Monroe dropping into his customary splits, a reminder that time has done nothing to blunt his physical commitment. While he was clearly flying the flag for his new album Outerstellar, the set struck a sharp balance between past and present, with guitarists Steve Conte and Rich Jones expertly trading licks in a way that echoed the Rolling Stones’ so-called ancient art of weaving. Sami Yaffa was on blistering form at bass, locking in effortlessly with Karl Rockfist, whose drumming kept the whole thing tight no matter how feral the frontman became. Monroe repeatedly climbed down into the pit, leaning over the barrier to get face-to-face with fans, and later donned his trademark police cap for ‘Hammersmith Palais’. The saxophone made a welcome appearance for Hanoi Rocks’ ‘Malibu Beach Nightmare’, before the set closed on the iconic ‘Up Around the Bend’, bringing a breathless, sweat-soaked performance to a perfectly defiant end.
Buckcherry
Buckcherry’s return to the UK carried a sense of unfinished business, finally making it back after illness cut their last visit short three years ago. Touring behind their 11th studio album, Roar Like Thunder, the band hit the stage full on with frontman Josh Todd emerging with a snarl and kicking off ‘Lit Up’ before sliding cleanly into ‘Roar Like Thunder’, with the audience fully with them from the outset. Stevie D handled lead guitar duties with bite and precision, his face mostly hidden beneath a Jones of Hollywood hat (still my favourite restaurant on Melrose!), while Billy Rowe anchored the sound on an eye-catching collection of Rock N Roll Relics guitars. Between songs, Todd’s comments—particularly his dry references to past extracurricular adventures involving cocaine—kept things loose without slowing the pace, and his tambourine work carried a familiar, Ian Astbury–like physicality. With no need for surprises, the band wrapped up with ‘Crazy Bitch’, their 2006 breakout hit still hitting hard, closing a set that felt direct, confident, and very much back on track.
Double-headline shows can be unpredictable, but this one struck the right balance. Both bands delivered standout sets, each bringing a different energy and approach that complemented rather than clashed. The variety kept the night moving, the crowd fully engaged, and the atmosphere buoyant from start to finish. It added up to a strong, well-matched bill and an evening that simply worked. The tour carries on until March 8th so get yourself along to your nearest stop!