KK’s Steelmill – 7/12/22
Another trip down to KKs Steelmill for a show that I had been looking forward to since it was first announced. You could almost call it a triple header, with the incredible quality of the bands involved. The Dead Daisies, supported by the Graham Bonnet band and FM.
Throughout the tour, the two support acts had been rotating, tonight FM were on first followed by Graham Bonnet. As they stepped out onto the stage, the venue was already packed, this promised to be a great night of live music and the crowd couldn’t wait to get started.
FM are a band that always deliver the goods and they put on a great show to open proceedings at the Steelmill. Their set contained a few newer songs, 2018’s ‘Killed By Love’ being a particular highlight for me and a song that can easily hold its own against the classic FM tracks such as ‘Tough it Out’ and ‘I Belong to the Night’.
Graham Bonnet was up next, someone who I have come to admire even more over the last twelve months since I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know him a little. A magnificent singer with the voice of a lion, Graham persistently delivers the goods. I’m told he woke up the morning of the show not even able to talk, his set the previous night was cut short, he was absolutely full of it and yet somehow, he walks on stage at the Steelmill and was on fire! Playing a string of Rainbow hits and some of his more recent stuff, I particularly enjoyed ‘Assault Attack’ from the Schenker years and closing track ‘Lost in Hollywood’ just sounded epic!
Onto to the main event and the reason everyone was here, the Dead Daisies are a rock and Roll machine. Their social media presence is amazing, I love the videos of the warm ups the band do backstage and you really get the impression they are completely focused and a real well oiled machine off stage as well as on.
This is my second time seeing the Daisies; they blew me away when I saw them last year but I think tonight was even better. Firstly, the sound was massive, I have talked about how good the Steelmill sound is and in a packed out venue it really did sound epic. Glenn’s bass tone was huge, the twin guitar attack of Doug Aldrich and David Lowy was out of this world – they don’t call David the thunder from down under for nothing, Doug’s Les Pauls sounded like a dream and returning drummer, Brian Tichy, was magnificent behind the kit.
‘Long Way To Go’ started proceedings off, from the 2016 album ‘Make Some Noise’ and is one of only a handful of ‘pre Glenn Hughes era’ songs. Interestingly, it was the first full album that drummer Brian Tichy appeared on as well and what a way to start. Absolutely stunning and for the next two hours the Daisies grabbed hold of you and didn’t put you down!
Amazing lead guitar work from Doug Aldrich, he really is a truly outstanding guitarist and again, that guitar tone he has is outstanding! ‘Bustle and Flow’ is one of the many highlights of the night and true meeting of musical masters. The quality of musicianship on that stage is impressive to say the least.
Face Your Fear sounded extra heavy and I loved hearing Glenn tackle CCR’s ‘Fortunate Son’ and following on from the CCR cover, a break in the proceedings for the drum solo. A very impressive event, Brian Tichy lost a few sticks throughout but hammered it home, perhaps a little over extended for some; it garnered an appreciative cheer from the crowd before the rest of the band returned to the stage.
Glenn announces the next song is from his past and the band launch into ‘Mistreated’. What a voice! Easily one of the best vocalists around today, he opens his mouth and quite literally bowls me over! I struggle to put into words just how impressive it is watching and listening to him sing.
Three more songs from the latest album follow, ‘Hypnotise Yourself’, ‘Shine On’ and latest single, ‘Born to Fly’ all are incredible. The Daisies are heavy, that twin guitar attack combined with Glenn’s bass, wow! Amazing.
All too soon, the show draws to a close, the band leave the stage and come back and play a mesmerising encore. ‘Midnight Moses’ into ‘Burn’ and after nearly two hours of hard rocking, energy levels are still at 100%! The final song, ‘Burn’ is exceptional – another mind blowing example of the incredible talent that is Glenn Hughes.
What a night, David Lowy has managed to put his dream band together and gets to play with them every night. Quite possibly, the Dead Daisies are one of the best rock and roll bands out there right now. Currently finishing off a U.K. tour, if you haven’t seen them, you really are missing a treat!
