The Darkness

Festival Hall

It was a tepid Melbourne evening when the epitome of UK glam rock The Darkness rolled into Melbourne to celebrate a whopping 20 ( well 21 to be exact)  years since the release of their debut album Failure to Launch. Cementing them in rock history, the album launched them into the stratosphere with the infectious single ” I Believe In a Thing Called Love” the tune still a fan favorite.

Having the show opened by DZ Deathrays and You Am I respectively, the crowd are pumped up and ready to go, Festival Hall almost packed to the rafters for the band’s return to Melbourne.

As usual the charismatic Justin Hawkins is dressed in a red and black jumpsuit, tattoos and chest on display, his performance captivating. Opening the show with ‘ Black Shuck’ quickly followed by ‘ Get Your Hands Off My Woman’ Justin is a ball of energy. Stopping the show momentarily to demand people put away their phones, Hawkins exclaims there is really no need to film the show ” Unless you’re a cunt” – so all phones are put away and we are forced to live in the moment.

Throughout the show as the band powers through the hits ‘ The Best of Me”, ” Love Is Only A Feeling” and Hawkins engages the crowd every chance he can get. He has the entire audience in the palm of his hand and he damn well knows it. There is an energy and charisma to the front man that simply can not be denied and he is captivating to watch.

Saving their biggest hit to last Hawkins commands the crowd  with the orders that ” I wanna see all you mother fuckers bouncing, like now, before the song starts. And I wanna see you keep bouncing and don’t forget the clapping in the middle”. With the instructions clear, the crowd bounces and keeps bouncing the entire song.

The Darkness truly are one of those bands that no matter how many times they perform, it’s always a captivating show full of energy, good times and an solid joy. There is something so fun about singing along with Hawkins as he takes you on a wild ride, and gently lands you back into reality at the end.

Words  & images by Amanda Lee Starkey