Review by Paul Monkhouse for MPM
An unseasonably balmy night saw the great and the good flock to London Town to witness the closing date of the latest UK jaunt by frequent visitors The Dead Daisies, their travelling rock ‘n’ roll circus bringing along two feral support acts into the bargain.
Always drawing a crowd, the Daises shifting line-up always provides a mix of talent that gels into a greater whole but with John Corabi back with them and new album ‘Light ‘Em Up’ acclaimed as their best yet, the night was promising to be something very special.
Before the main course, Californian quartet The Bites open the evening with an almost indecent determination to grab the Empire by the scruff of the neck and drag it kicking and screaming to a good time.
Having made a big impression already touring this side of the Atlantic and a scene stealing appearance at Stonedead Festival last month, the outfit know how to rock and within the half hour had everyone converted to brand of high octane metal.
Frontman Jordan Tyler is a blur as he charges around the stage, his ability to be the ringmaster of the high decibel machine mixing some outstanding vocals and the ability to reach out to every single person in the place.
The band are obviously having a great time and it’s infectious. Peeling out the riffs, guitarist Dustin Coon looks every inch the hungry young gunslinger and in rhythm section Mark Hylander and Zack Currie they’ve got a formidable engine room.
With ass kicking numbers like ‘Pretty Boys’ and ‘Fire in Hollywood’ that seamlessly blend muscle with melody, these boys have an even bigger future ahead of them. They even throw in a snatch of ‘War Pigs’ into the set, but such audience pleasing moves prove unnecessary as the band came, saw and most definitely conquered. Here’s to a swift return visit.
Having set the bar unfeasibly high, they’re a tough act to follow but The Treatment are old hands at this and the amount of t shirts being worn that were emblazoned with their name tells its own story. Having first formed in Cambridge some sixteen years ago, the quintet has seemingly been on the road ever since with a constant album/tour cycle seeing them doing things the hard way that has moulded them into one of the tightest combos out there.
Like the Daisies, there’s been a few people in the line-up but similarly, this current formation seems to be their strongest yet. With an acclaimed new album in the shape of ‘Wake Up the Neighbourhood’ under their studded belts, there’s a hunger here and passion to make music that delivers a good time.
Kicking off with ‘Let’s Wake Up This Town’, it was straight to business, the band’s AC/DC style back to basics hard rock shorn of any pretence and just going for the jugular.
With sibling guitarists Tagore and Tao Grey throwing shapes, singer Tom Rampton channels the spirit of Steven Tyler and dominates the stage, constantly easing and cajoling the audience whilst exuding an effortless cool. ‘This Fire Still Burns’ and ‘Man on Fire’ rock and roar, collective fists pumping the air and the audience encouraged to sing along, the closing killer blow of ‘Running with the Dogs’ closing things in suitably earthshaking fashion.
Having toured opening for the likes of KISS, Motley Crue, Motorhead, Alice Cooper and Status Quo amongst others, it always appeared that the band were destined to be stuck in the ‘special guest’ slot but they’ve more than shown that they deserve to be the bride, not just the bridesmaid.
With this line-up and an album as good as their latest release there’s an overwhelming feeling that now well may be their time to break through that glass ceiling and into the major leagues.
Each new Dead Daisies tour seem to bring a collection of different faces, main man guitarist David Lowy and long standing six stringer Doug Aldrich being the only constants.
Fortunately, this constantly ebbing and flowing line-up brings its own frisson of excitement and interest, band members coming and going as part of the extended family of players who come together when diaries allow.
Following a two album stint with ‘the voice of rock’ Glenn Hughes the return of John Corabi has brought back and dangerous and dirty edge to the outfit that arguably brings back the sound that most suits them.
Also along for the ride again is drum monster Tommy Clufetos, an absolute powerhouse few hit harder and with the poise and killer backing vocals of new recruit Michael Devin joining him, the Daisies are driving harder and faster than ever.
A band made to be seen live, here is where the sparks truly fly and the one/two punch of ‘Light ‘Em Up’ and ‘Rise Up’ displays their ability to harness barely controlled rock ‘n’ roll power with huge hooks. Swaggering and with a canyon wide and deep groove, the five exude a confidence and ease of a collective who’ve played with some of the biggest and most legendary rock bands in the world.
Seemingly, their main strength is a feeling that this is a brotherhood of equals, everyone respecting each other and this all a contrast to their having been players in bands often dominated by one or more bigger personality.
Certainly, the credit for this may centre on the quiet captainship of Lowy steering the good ship, aided by the anchoring presence of the ever reliable Aldrich but whatever the dynamics, this all works perfectly.
A career spanning set, early numbers such as ‘Lock ‘n’ Load’ still sound fresh and Corabi takes on Hughes era material like ‘Unspoken’ and ‘Bustle and Flow’ with his own gritty stylings, the results more than thrilling.
With a few covers thrown into the mix to in the form of Creedence’s ‘Fortunate Son’, SAHB’s ‘Midnight Moses’ and the Beatles ‘Helter Skelter’, along with their own singalong material, there’s plenty for the audience to raise their voices to, ‘Born to Fly’ a particular highpoint.
Dressed in his usual waistcoat, Aldrich rips out solos with a fearsome and dazzling skill, Lowy’s pinpoint playing along with the thunder of Clufetos and Devin and the cooly commanding presence of the untouchable Corabi all adding up to an unbeatable combination.
To borrow a phrase from Motörhead, they are The Dead Daises and they play rock ‘n’ roll. Long may they continue.
Photography by Jon Theobald for MPM
