Concert review: The Darkness at Birmingham O2 Academy
[gallery] The Darkness are back and they're hot! It was like the last five years hadn't happened as the band hit the stage in a burst of catsuits and shrieking vocals.
The Darkness
O2 Academy, Birmingham
Concert review by Ian Harvey
The Darkness are back and they're hot! It was like the last five years hadn't happened as the band hit the stage in a burst of catsuits (eventually), exuberant rock and shrieking vocals.
With the original line-up reunited, brothers Justin and Dan Hawkins led The Darkness through a set that took in all of their debut album, Permission To Land, a few choice cuts from its follow-up and some tasters from the band's forthcoming third album, due out next year.
Click on the image to the right for our photo gallery
Initially confounding expectations by sporting a Victorian style three-piece suit, flamboyant, bearded singer Justin led from the front as the crowd exploded, while brother Dan kept his head down, churning out riff after riff.
About half way through Justin appeared in his first catsuit of the evening, a red and white striped, Victorian circus ringmaster affair. An even wackier one was to follow.
As well as the hits like I Believe In A Thing Called Love, One Way Ticket and a very snowy Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End), there were a couple of cover versions in Queen's Tie Your Mother Down and a rather surprising, speed metal rendition of Radiohead's Street Spirit (Fade Out), which worked surprisingly well.
The last time The Darkness toured they wowed the NEC Arena with a show that saw Justin Hawkins suspended above the crowd on a trapeze and floating around on top of a giant white tiger.
In the somewhat cosier O2 Academy it was left to a rather impressive light show and pyros, plus a band that doesn't know the meaning of moderation.
Welcome back chaps. We've missed you.
