By Mia Palazzo
NEW YORK – Irving Plaza could barely contain the sound Wednesday night, as legendary UK glam rockers The Darkness turned the sold-out venue into a hard rock party. Opening with “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy,” the first track off their latest record Dreams on Toast, the band wasted no time igniting the crowd.
Frontman Justin Hawkins carried the night with both charisma and mischief. At one point he swiped a photographer’s camera to snap shots of the crowd, later borrowing a fan’s phone for the same stunt. His riffs matched his brother Dan’s guitar shredding, and the chemistry between all four members was undeniable. Bassist Frankie Poullain, guitarist Dan Hawkins and drummer Rufus Taylor each played their part in keeping the show tight and fiery.
Taylor stepped out from behind the kit to sing “My Only,” which seemed to be received very well by the crowd, while Poullain got his turn during the encore with “Weekend in Rome.” Justin’s tongue-in-cheek banter added levity, but it was the band’s music that did most of the talking. From Permission to Land staples like “Growing on Me” to newer cuts including “Japanese Prison of Love” and “Motorheart,” the setlist bridged two decades of material.
One highlight came when Justin teased Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” before diving headfirst into the band’s career-defining hit, “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” Which resulted in the entire crowd front to back singing along like they were at a karaoke bar.
The Darkness are no strangers to volatility. After the runaway success of their sophomore album One Way Ticket to Hell… and Back, Justin Hawkins stepped away to battle addiction, eventually returning sober and with renewed focus in 2011. Fourteen years later, the band is still proving why they matter. Their latest album, released in March, shows no signs of slowing down, and their live show only confirms it. Rock and roll is not just alive, it is thriving. As the encore closed with “I Hate Myself,” fans left chattering about how amazing the show was.
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THE DARKNESS – LIVE AT IRVING PLAZA IN NYC