Upon the release of their latest album, Light ‘Em Up, The Dead Daisies returned to the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on a night that re-ignited a love for Rock ‘N’ Roll like never before. The band that keeps on giving was back. With thunder and fury, they proved themselves once more with The Treatment and The Bites in tow.
The Dead Daisies – The Treatment – The Bites
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 21 September 2024
Words: Monty Sewell
Photography: Ryan Hildrew
The Dead Daisies
Opening up the show in true here-we-are mentality, the band struck off with the title track of their latest record. The lineup – strong as ever – consisted of David Lowy on guitar, John Corabi on lead vocals, Doug Aldrich on guitar, Michael Devin on bass and Tommy Clufetos on drums.
As the lights cast themselves down to make way for the glory of the onstage presence, the packed-out venue cheered. Beers were rife, and the pack mentality of all our Rock ‘N’ Roll good times afoot.
On the last night of their UK show run, The Dead Daisies were in full form to give us everything they had and more. We got crackers Rise Up, Dead and Gone and Make Some Noise before the new album release, I Wanna Be Your Bitch caused a most rocking stir.
The chemistry was on point, with Corabi offering his mix of heart-wrenchingly good vocals as he tore into every song with the gust of a tornado in the mid-western desert. As fans know, we are customed to the somewhat frequent lineup changes of the band, but Corabi is a selection that cannot be downplayed as one of The Dead Daisies’ finest yet.
In a shout-out to the brilliant past albums played, we get Unspoken before Bustle and Flow. Lock ‘n’ Load is another golden age single, with the sentiments spawned high and the entire venue singing along in chorus with more emotion than a fanatic discovering a lost disk.
I’m Gonna Ride, Born to Fly, and Angels cover Take a Long Time keep the party going strong. It becomes clear that The Dead Daisies create not only a night of pure Rock ‘N’ Roll engagement but an entire intoxication of all things guitar phenomena and beyond.
We get a downright brilliant drum solo from Clufetos, which is both enticing and enthralling. He has such a knack for keeping the audience on their eager-footed toes without a – quite literal – beat missed.
A fantastic rock ode mash-up was then brought to life, featuring songs like Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap and Whole Lotta Love. This is a brilliant Dead Daisies quip and never fails to entice. The one thing that has got to be enjoyed about their show is the collaboration of some of the finest musicians in the industry.
Nothing quite beats watching them wrap up their compositions with a dose of classic renditions.
I’m Ready is fantastic before they wrap up the pre-encore fun with Fortunate Son, Mexico and Midnight Moses. As the audience throw their abundance of leather-encased love onto stage, the guys return to play Long Way To Go and Helter Skelter.
The Dead Daisies never disappoint. But tonight, they excelled. As if the next album and bout of shows over here could not come soon enough.
The Treatment
Upon walking into the venue, I passed a fellow rock head who had never witnessed The Treatment before. The only words I could offer him before seeing them were, ‘Oh, it’s going to be good’.
Good was an understatement. The Treatment is by far one of the best live rock bands out there. They have and are showing their bare shreds upon the scene in a new era of hard-rocking adoration.
As the guys started playing, it was nothing short of a Rock ‘N’ Roll party scene. For avid fans, Running With The Dogs hit as hard as it ever would, with some sterling duel solo work from guitar-blasting brothers Tagore and Tao Grey.
Coursing along the stage whilst sweeping knuckle-dusted glares from show owner vocalist Tom Rampton, the stage was forever alight with the heat brought forth from the regions of a very much present rock-revival wrath.
With every bass swing, every snare-drum slash, The Treatment coined and copyrighted the term ‘taking-it-to-the-max’. Husky wails and no attitude to spare, the boys took us through their discography, including tracks from their recently released album Wake Up The Neighbourhood. It was as if there wasn’t a more perfect, more poignant sentiment written plainly and clearly.
We’d be fooled if we don’t see these guys playing arenas within the year. Nearing the end of their set, as Rampton revved up the audience into a call-and-response moment, the entirety of the Empire was at their beck and call. This ain’t their first rodeo.
And it sure as hell won’t be their last. As always, we look forward to more from The Treatment and could not recommend them highly enough.
The Bites
A rip-roaring hurricane blasted its way from the US straight into Shepherd’s Bush Empire. The Bites took the champion medal of top-class opening act gunners without an ounce of doubt. The band are clearly the ones to watch, with a show dedicated only to the most hair-roaring spectacular.
Their debut 2023 album Squeeze did justice to its name as every drip of Rock ‘N’ Roll rampage was juiced out of the venue with each delicious riff rung and every husky vocal run sung.
The guys were an absolute delight, swinging across the stage with every bit of glory days 80s hair metal love that they could conjure up. A total knock-out. If you want your next high-powered, straight-down-the-line Rock ‘N’ Roll fix, then The Bites are for you.
I just pray—as many other cheering punters in the crowd would agree—that they will be back across this side of the pond soon.
💯% on The Treatment a Absolutely Amazing live Band, I would Recommend anyone who love’s a Pure Rock and Roll show to go see them !