On the outskirts of Lyon, La Rayonne is one of these venues that keeps the local and international scene alive, always offering a good programme for Rock N’ Roll amateurs. That night, three bands were to take the stage: Barn Hooker a local band, The Treatment from England and the project The Dead Daisies, touring after the release of their album Light Em’ Up released last year.
Barn Hooker
Opening the evening from the very first meter of the stage, Barn Hooker delivered a high-energy performance rooted in classic Rock ‘N Roll. Their sound carried a distinctive southern vibe, setting the mood perfectly for what was to come. The singer was especially charismatic. As a local band, they proved to be a great discovery and an excellent choice to kick things off.
The Treatment
The Treatment have been around for a while now, but they still radiate the untamed energy of rowdy kids. This tour introduced their new bassist, who looked incredibly young and slightly nervous but held his own throughout the set. The overall sound was tight and powerful, as it was during the whole evening, with the band playing mostly tracks from their latest release, Waking Up the Neighbourhood. Their songs really come to life on stage, gaining an amplitude such as the excellent “Running With The Dogs”. It was a little surprising that they didn’t include their classic ‘I Bleed Rock N’ Roll’ in the set list, but the performance was still thoroughly enjoyable.
The Dead Daisies
By the time The Dead Daisies took to the stage, the venue was packed with long-time fans. John Corabi’s vocals were particularly strong. They started with a powerful trio of classics: “Long Way To Go”, the melodic “Rise Up” and “Dead and Gone”. This opening proved that the band was in top form and ready to deliver a healthy dose of Rock ‘N Roll.
The crowd had to wait a little bit for the band to get to the newer material from their latest album, Light Em’ Up (“Light Em’ Up” and “I’m Gonna Ride”.) While these new songs don’t reinvent the wheel, they are undeniably solid additions to the band’s repertoire. Doug Aldrich’s guitar work remains instantly recognisable.
On drums, Tommy Clufetos is a standout – demonstrative, precise and the driving force behind the band’s tight performance. It’s always a fun moment when the band line up at the front of the stage like the three musketeers, engaging in timeless rock ‘n’ roll theatrics that still have impact. Not all traditions fared equally well, though – the drum solo dragged on a bit. However, the humorous and clever introductions of the band members, each paired with a short riff or chorus from a rock classic (”Highway to Hell”, ”Living After Midnight”, ”Heaven and Hell”…), felt like musical identity cards and allowed the audience to sing along.
A definite highlight of the evening was the acoustic rendition of the ballad “Love That’ll Never Be,” which managed to strike an emotional chord without slipping into sentimentality. The Dead Daisies also played their recent cover of “Crossroads,” teasing their upcoming blues-inspired album born out of the jam sessions of Light Em’ Up. Guitarist David Lowy even stepped up to the mic for a playful cover of “Get a Haircut.”
The encore brought the night to a powerful close, featuring their hit “Resurrected” and their usual cover of “Helter Skelter.” While some fans still deplore the covers taking too big a part of the setlist, covers have always been a key part of The Dead Daisies’ identity throughout the years. Overall, this was an excellent evening filled with energy and brilliant musicianship.
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