The Darkness Dazzles at Neighborhood Theatre
The 2022 North American Motorheart Tour Brings a Rock ‘N’ Roll Party To Charlotte
From the time many of us were very young children, we were afraid of the darkness, viewing it as something scary and perhaps even ominous and evil. But in the case of the British rock band The Darkness, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The Darkness represents absolutely everything that is fun and light-hearted about rock and roll. They are a modern-day mix of 70s glam and 80s excess with songs that will have you on your feet, dancing and partying all night long. The band is out on tour in support of their latest album Motorheart and recently made a stop right here in Charlotte at the Neighborhood Theatre, and oh, what a night it was!
The evening got off to a fantastic start with a rock-solid set from The Dead Deads, a Nashville-based power rock trio featuring McQueen on drums, Daisy on bass, and Meta on guitar. The band is full-on raw energy with crunching riffs set alongside pop hooks all while staying true to their punk and grunge roots. Indeed, their music is a true amalgam of genres and they can go from sugary sweet to devilishly daring in the blink of an eye. Their set was outrageously fun with a strong emphasis on their latest record Tell Your Girls It’s Alright including songs “Dead Inside” and “Deal with Me.”
Don’t be surprised to hear a cover or two thrown into the mix as well as they have treated us to a little Pink Floyd done Dead Deads style with “In The Flesh/Push Me.” I’ve been a fan of the band since they toured with Bush years ago and it’s been amazing to see them grow into a full-fledged rock powerhouse in such a short time. The Dead Deads are a captivating act to catch live and I can’t recommend them enough. Be sure to check them out if you get the chance.
After a short break, the sold-out crowd packed into the venue, waiting patiently for what would be hands-down the best time ever. There are rock bands that you go and see where you know that the performance is just going to be spectacular. Since I have seen The Darkness several times, I knew it was going to be a fantastic show but I wasn’t totally prepared for the level of excellence that was about to be shown. This was a rock show ladies and gentlemen and the energy The Darkness was about to exude could have powered the entire city of Charlotte on this Friday night.
A banner lit up at the rear of the stage with The Darkness logo emblazoned on it and when the band made their way onto the stage, the crowd erupted with cheers and excitement. Kicking things off with “Welcome Tae Glasgae” from their Motorheart album, The Darkness came, saw, and quickly conquered the Charlotte audience with a performance for the ages. The band sounded amazing with bassist Frankie Poullain and drummer Rufus Taylor driving the pace while guitarists Dan and Justin Hawkins lit things up all night long. The music is pure hard rock goodness, exactly what works well in a live setting as we were taken on a rock and roll ride from one of the very best frontmen in the industry, Justin Hawkins. Justin is quite simply one of a kind. He is a talented vocalist and a gifted performer who gives one hundred percent of himself each and every time he takes the stage.
It was a wild performance with a setlist that leaned heavily on songs from both their latest album and their 2003 debut Permission to Land. We saw incredible feats of musicianship with blistering guitar solos from both Dan and Justin, an off-the-hook bass solo from Frankie, and thundering drums from Rufus. In true rock style, we had costume changes, jumps from the drum riser, handstands, and splits. The high point of the night came when Justin dove off the stage into the crowd, surfing his way to the back of the theatre before the crowd turned him around and he made his way back to the stage. People were singing, dancing, jumping, and pretty much having the time of their lives all thanks to The Darkness. This was an electrifying concert and definitely the most fun I have had at a show this year.
Don’t be afraid to embrace The Darkness and join us on a wild ride. The band will be hitting up Europe this summer for a series of dates that are sure to be “Solid Gold.” I still may not believe in a thing called love but I most assuredly believe in The Darkness and you should too. Now get off your arse and get to a show!
Click Here To See the Full Gallery of the Evening!
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http://www.thedarknesslive.com/
