As a band who reached the heights of fame due to their ironic, yet technically masterful, tracks such as ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love', I was unsure what kind of show I was getting myself in for - would they play into the 70s hair metal pastiche, or would they put on a genuine set that showed off their musical passion and prowess? The answer: both.
Bounding on stage to the first track ‘Rock and Roll Party Cowboy’ - one from their new album Dreams on Toast - Justin Hawkins immediately set the tone with his powerful stage presence and iconic falsetto vocals, which still impressively holds up 20-odd years later. He was, of course, not alone, and the other three members of the band supported his showmanship antics by donning skin-tight pants, silver suits, and voluminous hair. From outfits to strobe lights and visuals, the staging was a delight and heightened the whole event.
Both the band’s established tracks and those released only a few days prior showcased their exceptional musicality. The technical expertise of guitarist - and younger brother - Dan Hawkins was fantastic and his excellent solos almost made me forget I was witnessing a ‘parody’ of a 1970s glam rock band, and not the real thing. This immersion was only aided by the unfaltering vocals of the frontman, which were sometimes inextricably better than on the records.
The crowd was a refreshing mix of ages, giving credit to the band’s widespread and ongoing appeal. As an audience member, the show, above all, was fun. It was very quickly established that Justin Hawkins was not only commanding the stage, but the crowd too. In only the third song, ‘Get Your Hands Off My Woman’, he was already in a handstand on the drum platform, clapping his legs together and spurring on the audience to keep time with him; and we sure did.
The Darkness certainly knows how to put on a show, in more ways than one. It certainly isn’t a ‘regular’ show as far as rock music goes, but that is what makes them so enjoyable, and has done for the past 20 years. Fans, critics, and sceptics alike: go and see The Darkness live.