Sometimes it’s good to get outside of your music comfort zone. Last week, I had the pleasure of going to a show that, if I’m being honest, I wasn’t super stoked about since I wasn’t really familiar with the bands. To my surprise, I had so much fun! I even joked after that I was their new number one fan. Which show was it? The Darkness, and openers The Dead Deads.
Admittedly, I know nothing about The Darkness other than that when I was in junior high, all my skater friends were obsessed with them, and that I used to see the music video on VH-1 and MTV all the time. Besides my initial impressions, I assumed they were a gimmicky, silly hair metal band something akin to Steel Panther. However, I was proven very wrong.
Filling out their opening spot was Nashville’s The Dead Deads, whom I had never heard of at all before. I had no idea what to expect from an opening band for the Darkness, but these three women were so intriguing to watch. Dressed in loud bright clothes, hats, some animal print and with X’s painted in black over their eyes, their image juxtaposed perfectly with their music which is heavy rock n roll with an indie, grungy, vibe. Singer Meta Dead’s voice has a deep, guttural tone which was a big hit with the crowd. The people really loved them and there were many people in the crowd singing along which was cool to see.
Directly addressing the crowd, they instructed to “tell your girls that it’ll be alright”, which is the name of their newest record, (apparently featuring Corey Taylor from Slipknot on one of their songs). They ended with the heaviest song of the set, which was such a treat to watch with the band headbanging, kicking, and screaming in a very, metalcore type of way.
Once off stage, another show started. Usually stagehands changing over between bands wouldn’t make a review, but at this particular show the stagehand, who was a very large man, cleared all of their equipment in bright-red high-heel pumps and a glittery hat that Meta had put on him.
The House of Blues started to get a little more packed at this point, and the crowd started piling onto the floor, anticipating The Darkness finally playing a show two years in the making (original dates had been canceled due to the pandemic). Singer Justin Hawkins made an impressive entrance as he burst from the back in sparkly pink chaps over tight black pants and started to sing his heart out. After the first few songs he began a chant “ give me a D!” “Give me an Arkness! “We are the mother fucking Darkness!!! which made the crowd get even more into the performance, me included. I love a good cheer. The crowd was singing every word, dancing, and everyone was having a great time, the band included.
Despite an outfit that was already pretty close to perfect, throughout their set singer Justin borrowed various items of clothing from the audience. A majority of the show he played barefoot, but during one song was given a pair of checkered vans, and in another song a cowboy hat. Though complimenting his outfit perfectly, he wasted no time jokingly talking shit to the fan that threw it on stage for having such a small head.
The Darkness has a very dancy, disco feel to them with all the best parts of hair metal which you think shouldn’t work, but somehow they do so well. “One Way Ticket” got the entire crowd screaming the words back at them. It’s a heavy rock n roll song that made me really see how talented these guys are. “Friday Night” got the biggest reaction from the crowd, people were dancing, screaming, and by its conclusion I even started to sing along. It’s such a catchy song. Another highlight was ballad “Love Is Only a Feeling” which really highlighted Justin’s versatile voice.
Three wardrobe changes, a ton of fun banter, and 90 minutes of the guitarist completely killing every riff, the show finally came to a close. Unsurprisingly, with “I Believe In a Thing Called Love” which I personally was waiting for. Man did they deliver. Justin came out in a leather jacket and speedo underwear, and every single person at the House of Blues sang their hearts out. I thoroughly enjoyed my time watching them, and I’m glad I finally caught them live. Years later, I have finally understood why all my middle school skater friends were obsessed with this band.
Photos by Aaron Mattern
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