Concert Review/Photo Gallery: The Darkness @ Phoenix Concert Hall in Toronto, ON 4/19/22

Embarking on their North American tour in support of their latest album, Motorheart, on March 9th, The Darkness have been energetically entertaining rock fans around the United States and Canada with a night of pure live music magic. As the tour starts to wind down, the British rockers roll into Toronto, ON, on a rainy Tuesday, April 19th, to bless the Canadian rock fans with a night of 70s esque rock ‘n’ roll at The Phoenix Concert Hall.

Promptly at 9:00pm, the house lights went down, and the stage illuminated in a moody purple. The crowd irrupted into cheers as Dan Hawkins (guitar), Rufus Taylor (drums) and Frankie Poullain (bass) take the stage; quickly followed by the frontman himself, Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, guitar). Known for his eccentric sense of style, J. Hawkins wears matching dark pink western style pants and button up, along with a black belt and bolo tie, his first look of the night. Clapping his hands above his head, J. Hawkins immediately grabs the crowd’s attention, everyone copying his action as Taylor stomps heavy on the bass drum before the band rips into the opening track off their 2021 release, Welcome Tae Glasgae. D. Hawkins’ melodic guitar starts off the track, before the tone changes midway into a heavy riff that drives the song, adding a contrast to J. Hawkins falsetto vocals.

Keeping the crowd’s attention, the band transitions into their energic track, One Way Ticket. The entire room bouncing along with the band, as everyone harmonized with the vocals on the chorus. Not only impressing the crowd with his vocal range, but J. Hawkins also takes the reigns of the guitar solo on this one and didn’t leave the audience unimpressed. With a Brian May flare, J. Hawkins utilizes the middle of the fretboard on his white Gibson Les Paul delivering a solo that oozed warm tones.

Keeping things interesting as they reach the middle of the set, the guitar tech hands over a keytar to J. Hawkins during their 2017 single, Solid Gold. Ripping out a solo that is normally played on a guitar, the keytar brought a fun 80s pop twist to the song and to the hard rock show.

In true Justin Hawkins style, he ditched the more subdued outfit for a Freddie Mercury style gold leotard with a low cut down the front showing off his chest tattoos. Running back onto the stage with a jump and heel click while D. Hawkins plays the ever so catchy opening riff to Black Shuck.

As the song ends, keeping up his stage antics, J. Hawkins teases a fan that chants “Play Friday Night”. “What are you saying? Play Friday Night?” he laughs. “Just because you asked, no! Not now, not ever.” The crowd erupts into laughter. “I’m just teasing. Is it okay if we play it a little later in the set like we usually do?” he asks before the band jump into the anthemic tune “Heart Explodes”, the crowd clapping along in a unique pattern J. Hawkins demonstrates.

Keeping his promise to the band playing their hit “Friday Night” J. Hawkins sings a line from the dance worthy track. “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday…” he sings before holding his microphone out for the crowd to finish. “Dancing on a Friday night” the audience chimes in. Picking up a second microphone from stage, he swings it over to the enthused fan who desperately wanted to hear the song. Repeating the line from the song again as the fan finishes it into the mic. Continuing his fun with the audience for a little longer before the band officially start their classic track.

Without disappointment the band make their way back to the stage to close the night with their famous hit “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”. “Everyone put your phones away, this is a moment for all of us to be present and be together” J. Hawkins speaks into the microphone as the band begins to play. Putting in every ounce of energy they had left into the song, the crowd jumped and sang along to the catchy tune.

Their stage presence and energy not wavering once throughout the set, The Darkness put on a show that will leave fans wanting more. They are there to give you a night you’ll never forget, and it did not disappoint.

Setlist

1. Welcome Tae Glasgae
2. One Way Ticket
3. Growing on Me
4. Motorheart
5. Open Fire
6. Solid Gold
7. Givin’ Up
8. It’s Love, Jim
9. Black Shuck
10. Heart Explodes
11. Friday Night
12. Love Is Only a Feeling
13. Japanese Prisoner of Love
14. Barbarian
15. Get Your Hands Off My Woman
16. I Believe in a Thing Called Love