Live Review: The Dead Daisies

The Dead Daisies are a rock’n’roll band formed by Jon Stevens of INXS/Noiseworks and David Lowy of Mink/Red Phoenix. Add Richard Fortus, who is a late addition to Guns N’ Roses, and this rounds out the core members. The band has also been joined by a rotation of rock’s highest echelon musicians with such names as Darryl Jones (The Rolling Stones), Marco Mendoza and John Tempesta just a few who have graced their stage. Tonight, the line-up was filled out by Dizzy Reed, also of Guns N’ Roses fame.

As you’d expect, the result is some effortlessly infectious high quality rock. Unabashed yet presented humbly, it’s a love for rock’n’roll and what makes it great that’s drawn these musicians together for our pleasure. Each member is not only technically adept but compositionally so too. Take into account the years and years of performances under each of their belts and what you have is six guys on stage having an awesome time. This reflected instantly on the crowd of mostly older music fans who brought The Gov close to capacity. Stevens touts a loveable nature with an extremely powerful voice, commanding the stage while blasting his vocal chords. Fortus ensures the energy is never let down a notch with his cocky yet awe-inspiring approach to lead guitar. He spat out solos with dextrous flair this way and that, whereas Lowy quietly and effectively laid down the groove in the rhythm section without drawing too much attention to himself. Reed cordoned the funk with the upbeat addition of his keys, bearing the figurative flag on the tightly-constructed tower that is The Dead Daisies.

Stevens talked of his love for Adelaide crowds, detailing that of 100 Australians on the KISS rock’n’roll cruise on the Caribbean that 30 of them were from Adelaide. You’d hope that when a band says they’re debuting a new song live and that no one has ever heard it before, they aren’t kidding, as The Dead Daisies launched into Mexico, an as then unheard song that is going to appear on next year’s album. Also performing a fiery encore and syphoning out the last remnants of rock energy they had left inside themselves, The Dead Daisies are a force to be reckoned with, and a glorious lesson in old-school rock’n’roll.