‘Give me an D! Give me an Arkness! We’re THE F***ing Darkness!’
After starting their tour of Australia in March 2020, which was tragically cut short due to restrictions, The Darkness returned to complete an eight date run of Australia and New Zealand to celebrate their seventh studio album Motorheart. The British glam-rock four piece from Lowestoft, England started their tour at The Forum in Melbourne, and were in incredible form throughout the night.
Opening the show were Perth rock and blues group The Southern River Band, consisting of Callum Kramer, Anton Dindar, Jason Caniglia and Carlo Romeo. Self-described as channelling AC/DC, Van Halen and ‘anything that doesn’t suck’, the band made up for lost time putting on a stellar show with highlights being Chasing After Love (I’ll Burn a Hole in Your Shoes), Cigarettes (Ain’t Helping Me None) and Chimney. The live set (as good as their vinyl – they told us) had everything from dedicating a song to ‘anybody who knows who the fuck we are’, through to a song about a colleague on meth. During their last song, lead-singer Callum ripped off his shirt to an adoring crowd yelling, ‘I don’t need this anymore’. If you are keen to catch the band on tour, they have local dates coming up all around the country. Tickets available here.
Before long, it was time for the main act. Performing to one of the most packed crowds we’ve seen at the Forum, the band took to the stage and launched straight into the title track of their album, Motorheart,with the high energy they are known for. The band consisting of lead singer Justin Hawkins, brother Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain and Rufus Tiger Taylor were a well-oiled machine; amazing songs, funny banter and a good time for all. Their set heavily featured songs off their debut 2003 album Permission to Land, with Black Shuck and Growing on Me next on the list.
New track It’s Love, Jim was well received and One Way Ticket had the crowd losing their minds, while Welcome Tae Glasgae was a great follow up. At one point in the show, Justin Hawkins borrowed a leather jacket from the crowd for Givin’ Up exclaiming, ‘If you don’t have covid or monkeypox, you do now!’ Things started to peak when Love Is Only A Feeling was played, with the crowd singing along to every word and chorus. The band asked their guitar tech Softie to come out on guitar for Heart Explodes, before the band performed tracks including Friday Night, Japanese Prisoner of Love, Barbarian, and Solid Gold.
Our favourite part of the night came during the 19-year old hidden gem Get Your Hands Off My Woman, which consisted of Justin doing a handstand, clapping his feet along for the audience to join in. The gig had its moments of hilarity, from operatic warm ups with the crowd, to redirecting a girl’s request for a happy birthday shout out to cameo.com, before launching into a full sing-a-long for Tia the birthday girl. Before kicking off their encore, we were told to put our phones away for I Believe in a Thing Called Love, which could only be described by saying you had to be there to believe it.
For the encore, Christmas came early with a performance of an unreleased track in Australia – Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) – with the lead singer of The Southern River Band performing on the bells shirtless. The band played their last track Love on the Rocks With No Ice with an extended solo performed on the shoulders of security through the crowd. With the band commenting that it was the first date of their AU/NZ tour and that it had been ‘a roaring success’, (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life played over the speakers to conclude the night. Needless to say, we left impressed at the band’s range and versatility and their ability to put on the show of a lifetime.
Remaining tour dates and tickets can be found here.