The Dead Daisies Are a Live Wire

The Dead Daisies are anything but when they take the stage. Already a strong presence on record, the band is really defined by their absolute powerhouse live performances, as evidenced on their new CD/DVD, "Live & Louder."

The spirited set recorded in Paris, Vienna, Munich and other cities during a European tour late last year showcases the band's seemingly boundless energy, remarkable musicianship and kinship with its devoted fans.

While The Dead Daisies were initially formed as a musical collective with rotating members by Australian guitarist David Lowy, the lineup has solidified in the past couple years and is undeniably a unit that is more than the sum of its high pedigree parts.

On "Live & Louder," singer John Corabi engages the crowd and commands center stage with powerful, emotive vocals. He's flanked by Lowy and fellow guitarist Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio), who reel off robust riffs and fiery solos. Bassist Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake) and drummer Brian Tichy (Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner), let loose with an arsenal of roundhouse rhythms and fluid grooves that provide the band's bedrock.

Highlights include driving show opener, "Long Way to Go," the urgent "Song and a Prayer," the back-to-back calls for unity of "Join Together" and "With You and I," barn burner "Mainline," and rousing renditions of "Helter Skelter" and "We're An American Band."

Many of the songs are taken from The Dead Daisies' third and most recent album, "Make Some Noise" (2016).

The band's Dirty Dozen Tour includes stops on Aug. 16 at the House of Independents in Asbury Park and Aug. 17 at the Highline Ballroom in New York City. For more info go to thedeaddaisies.com

We recently spoke with singer John Corabi.

The Dead Daisies are such a live force. It seems natural that you put out a live album.

Each gig that we do we usually do a signing afterwards and a lot of the fans come up with the records for us to sign and they say, "we like the (studio) records but are you ever going to do a live album or DVD?" We took it with a grain of salt. But we were talking about it with management and it was nice to do something to give us a little more time between albums - we had done two records and two or three world tours in two years. We're going into the studio to do a new album on November 1. More importantly, it's the something the fans wanted and we want to make our fans happy.

What do you enjoy most about performing live?

It's very structured when you're in the studio and when you get out there onstage it's just pure fun. We're enjoying the moment and playing off each other and kid with each other. We're having a good time and it shows and comes across with the audience. It's like a party experience. I'm very proud of both records we've done but live you have a little more freedom to stretch things out and jam a little more.

What can you say about your fellow band members?

Honestly I can't say this enough. I'm fortunate where I get to stand onstage and pinch myself that I'm with these great players. They've honed their craft. We all make mistakes but this band once it’s locked in it's pretty awesome. It's the combination of that and that we've known each other for years. I've known Doug since we were 16 growing up in Philadelphia. I've known Brian and Marco since 93 or 94. We're always kidding with each other. We're friends as well as a band.

While The Dead Daisies started as a collective, it's obvious that this is the definitive lineup. You're about to start making your third album with this lineup.

I think David put this together as a collective but wanted a band and it was a matter of finding the right combination, and this is it.

What can you about your tour that’s coming to New Jersey and New York City next week?

It’s loud, it’s aggressive and we have fun. At the end of the day we try to hang out with a lot of the fans. We’re excited to play in Asbury and the city. It’s just a good time. You won’t be disappointed.