LIVE REVIEW: The Dead Daisies @ O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Review: Tasha Brown
Photos: Dawn Osborne

On a crisp, slightly damp November evening, hundreds of classic rock fans pile into the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire for a night of good tunes and good times with friends old and new. A buzz of excited chatter fills the room as people trade war stories of past concerts where new vocalist for THE DEAD DAISIES, the legendary Glenn Hughes feature heavily.

GRAND SLAM

Wandering on to the stage to a filling floor space were GRAND SLAM, an Irish rock band enjoying a revival since their reunion in 2016.

“Life’s a bitch and that’s guaranteed” Mike Dyer croons over a bed of old school rock n’ roll. Dyer’s blusey tones flow effortlessly through the room. Though they’ve been back in commission for five years now, the ease of this footloose and fancy-free set indicates a band that are firmly back in the saddle again. In saying that, there are some moments where the set feels dated. With showmanship which doesn’t quite hit the mark, and repetition of “It’s good to be back in the bush” between songs, the between song banter is clunky and awkward.

Musically, the band is incredibly tight. What started as a cold crowd soon warms up to the idea of having a subtle head-bob to the classic Hit The Ground and Gone Are The Days. As the band played on the eve of Remembrance Day, their version of GARY MOORE’s Military Man is dedicated to the fallen veterans and our own Malcolm Dome. To a chorus of cheers, the bass hit as hard as the song’s lyrical content. Finishing the set with Sisters Of Mercy, a song revered by Malcolm prompts the crowd to sing along to a song which is more poignant today than it ever has been. As wonderful as that moment of unification was, it left us on a little bit of a down note.

Rating: 6/10

 

THE QUIREBOYS

Something we’ve missed about the rock scene over the past few years is the presence of a hype man before a show. Enter THE QUIREBOYS. The crowd comes to life as vocalist Spike saunters on to the stage. From the first note, the crowd is treated so a rock n’ roll show like no other which is very apt given the name of the tour. Spike is simply a conduit of energy, lapping up every bit of love from the crowd as he sings the microphone stand through the air.

There is very little banter between songs, directing their efforts to the music. Yet, this casual chatter between crowd and band when it does come reads like old friends catching up at the bar. It’s this closeness and tight bond which makes for such an electric set. There are times where Spike’s vocals get drowned out by the instrumentals, but the crowd soon amplifies what’s missing. Whippin’ Boy’s salacious groove grabs people by the hips and has them dancing their merry dance.

By the time 7 O’Clock rolls around, no one wants this set to end. Calls for “one more hour” echo through the auditorium. This feel-good time we’ve experienced feels like a high we can get nowhere else. The crowd grab this last opportunity to let loose with both hands and grooves to the sound of Spike’s harmonica.

Rating: 8/10

THE DEAD DAISIES

There was a lot of anticipation around the headlining act. Following the departure of John Corabi and Marco Mendoza, many wondered whether this super-group would still have the same energy. This trepidation leads the crowd to bring themselves down from seeing THE QUIREBOYS, allowing themselves to absorb what they’re about to see before making their judgment.

With the introduction of second song Rise Up, those nerves are soon put to bed as Glenn Hughes’ exquisite voice cuts through. The power of Dough Aldrich of and David Lowy’s dual guitars coupled with the thunderous beats of Tommy Clufetos provides a wall of sonic nectar. “Let the devil be my witness” Hughes proclaims in a particularly heavy rendition of Dead And Gone. It’s here Hughes begins to shine as a scream rips through the Empire, bringing many to a standstill.

It’s a shame the song which garnered the biggest reaction from the crowd wasn’t a song by THE DEAD DAISIES. A cover of DEEP PURPLE’s Mistreated sees the crowd come unglued and scores of phones thrust into the air, trying to capture footage of this frankly beautiful song. Bringing the song from the 70s into the present day was by far the correct choice but takes something away from THE DEAD DAISIES. We’re left conflicted by this as Hughes’ isolated vocals at the end of the performance sends shockwaves through us. “I’ve been losing my mind” followed by the most powerful falsetto of the night has us feeling the same sentiment.

With a set compiled with a heavy leaning towards the recent Holy Ground album, THE DEAD DAISIES are keen to usher in a new era of the band. Based on this performance, this notion breeds a lot of excitement amongst the camp. Hughes manages to not only win the fans and casual listener over, but also have them eating out of the palm of his hand. However, when a set features four covers, there is a lot to be said that there is still a need, and indeed a desire for the older material to be resurrected.

Rating: 7/10