When The Dead Daisies decided to name their current North American trek the “Like No Other” tour, it could’ve easily been taken as a nod to one of the songs on Holy Ground, which was recorded in 2019 in France and dropped this past January — global pandemic notwithstanding.
But it’s more apropos to believe the label is an apt description for its newest frontman, he of the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame via Deep Purple, the “Voice of Rock” known as Glenn Hughes.
Although the Daisies, created by Australian guitarist David Lowy and having released their debut self-titled album in 2013, were reportedly meant to have various supergroup musicians as part of their roster over the years, it’s the inclusion of Hughes in 2019 that has taken the group to another level. With no disrespect to former vocalist John Corabi or other Daisies bassists such as Marco Mendoza — or even to whomever may comprise the band in the future — the addition of Hughes on powerful lead vocals and bass may shoot The Dead Daisies into the next stratosphere.
The band could be headed that way regardless thanks to the private jet and 5-star hotel way of life it enjoys due to Lowy’s lofty investments and real estate ventures. Their latest stop found Texas with the Rock Box welcoming the Daisies, comedian and former “That Metal Show” co-host Don Jamieson and Phoenix trio The Black Moods last Thursday. That trifecta was then joined by locals Black Heart Saints at Come And Take It Live in Austin this past Sunday (see 122-photo slideshow below).
Hughes and Lowy are accompanied by former Whitesnake and Dio guitarist Doug Aldrich and latest touring drummer Tommy Clufetos. Some may recognize Clufetos as one of Ozzy Osbourne’s drummers, but he’s also a unique answer to a trivia question: who was the only non-original member of Black Sabbath to take part in its farewell tour?
Yep, Clufetos filled in for Bill Ward, who was reportedly mired in contract squabbles with Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler during that 2013 trek. Clufetos got the call, and the rest was history. Clufetos, who formed Tommy’s RockTrip earlier this year and released Beat Up By Rock N’ Roll in May, provided riveting drum solos during both performances this past week.
Playing the same set both nights (see slideshow), the group showcased tracks from all five of its studio albums and one covers record. See ATM’s Facebook Live footage from San Antonio of “Mexico” and “Bustle and Flow”plus “Like No Other'“ and “Holy Ground”. But the highlights, particularly for the stylish Hughes of course, were the Deep Purple offerings. Although there were only two, watch ATM’s Facebook Live footage from the Rock Box of “Mistreated” for further evidence as to why, according to Hughes’ website, Stevie Wonder once referred to Hughes as his “favorite white singer.”
About the only thing that could stop Hughes at the Rock Box, at least temporarily, was the distraction he felt from the sold-out show happening on the other side of the door that separates it from the larger Vibes Event Center within the same confines. Millennials were diving off the stage during the sold-out Knocked Loose gig with Gatecreeper, and Hughes couldn’t resist taking a stab in between songs:
“There’s some shit going on next door,” lamented Hughes, who provided all the bass on Joe Satriani’s 2018 album What Happens Next. “I’m a lovely guy, but that music is fucking dreadful.” Moments later, Hughes recanted a bit: “I’m sorry about next door. I’m sorry I was so vicious . . . you have no idea how much I love you San Antonio.”
The tireless work of Rock Box owners Micaela and Steve Rodriguez to host concerts in their 3-in-1 venue (4-in-1 if you count the outdoor stage that has hosted Corey Taylor, Papa Roach, Skillet and Alter Bridge among many others over the years along with the basement stage and multi-bar area known as Vibes Underground) and to keep the music scene alive, particularly during this era, may have been lost on Hughes in the heat of the moment. But as Jamieson shared with ATM after the performance, Hughes had been talking about the Texas trek, and especially San Antonio, for several days in advance of The Dead Daisies’ arrival.
The night ended with the mandatory Deep Purple classic “Burn", which was preceded by Daisies track “Long Way to Go” (ATM footage of both below). To think that Hughes and David Coverdale were once in a band together undoubtedly brought back memories of that early ‘70s period, for those fortunate to have lived through it, when “Burn” put a definitive time stamp on this evening.
For his part, Jamieson shook things up as the immediate warmup for The Dead Daisies by providing laughs about his favorite Rock N’ Rollers and the fact “That Metal Show” not only got canceled a few years back but that he and his cohorts, Eddie Trunk and Jim Florentine, also managed to take down VH1 Classic with them.
Jamieson said he was comfortable with his manhood to admit he liked Winger, but primarily because that band had a No. 1 hit about an underage girl, which led him to refer to Kip Winger as “the R. Kelly of Rock N’ Roll.” Jamieson also recalled how former Skid Row vocalist Sebastian Bach, who’s headlining the Rock Box tonight, still doesn’t speak to him after Jamieson told him during a comedic roast of Bach that he didn’t have any balls anymore, a joke that resulted in Bach hurtling a cup of hot coffee at Jamieson.
Jamieson said his favorite Black Sabbath album was Vol. 4 because the band “was so stoned that they recorded the whole thing in 13 minutes,” and he admired Tommy Lee’s schlong, saying it’s “longer than a Dream Theater song.” The comic’s version of audience participation was to tell one front-row goer he “may have even gotten a little excited” when Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford came out of the closet as a gay man. Watch Jamieson in action here from Sunday’s show in Austin.
A date with paying the bills necessitated a late arrival to the Rock Box, thereby missing The Black Moods’ set Thursday. But much like Come And Take It Live had only one show occurring on its premises at a time, there were no such issues Sunday in Austin as the trio rocked the house with tracks from 2020 album Sunshine including “Whatcha Got” and “Throwing Shade.”
Meanwhile, the Black Heart Saints returned to their home stage and warmed things up in Austin with seven songs, including “All Night Long” and ending with a cover of Billy Squier’s “Lonely Is the Night.”
“Like No Other” can also be considered a victory signaling when a concert is able to go off without a hitch during these times. Two shows in a span of four days featuring these acts was certainly a treat to behold, led of course by The Dead Daisies, who demonstrated they’re livelier than ever. And if you weren’t there, or simply aren’t convinced, there’s more Daisies where the previous footage came from. Watch ATM’s Facebook Live clips from Austin of “Lock and Load” and cover song “Fortunate Son,” plus another dose of closers “Long Way to Go” and “Burn.”
While it would’ve been nice to hear one song as an ode to each member’s previous bands, such as Whitesnake, Dio, Black Sabbath or even Hughes’ stints in Trapeze and more recent outfits Black Country Communion or California Breed, there’s no denying the talent on stage and the fun they brought to South Texas. So feel free to hold ‘em up high as a thank you to The Dead Daisies, the promoters that brought them to town and the venues and staff who enabled them to be on stage.
Because you never know when the last time you saw your favorites perform might be the last time you witness them on stage at all.
