On March 17, 2025, The Darkness electrified York Barbican with a 19-song set, part of their 17-date UK tour for Dreams on Toast (out March 28). It was Justin Hawkins’ 50th birthday, and the occasion wasn’t lost on the fans. The crowd sang Happy Birthday and then midway through “Growing on Me,” a devoted admirer hurled a “Birthday Boy” sash onto the stage; Hawkins gleefully donned it, wearing it like a rock ‘n’ roll boss as the crowd erupted. He wore it briefly, adding a playful spark to his presence, before shedding it—not clinging to theatrics this time, as he skipped the usual flamboyant outfit for a simpler stage look that still radiated charisma.
The night launched with “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy,” its gritty swagger igniting the room, primed by Ash’s indie-rock opening. Classics like “Get Your Hands Off My Woman” and “Love Is Only a Feeling” fused with new cuts like “Mortal Dread” and “The Longest Kiss,” the latter a sly gem from the forthcoming album.
Hawkins, ever the showman, didn’t just sing—he performed. Whether executing a mid-song handstand, bantering with the crowd about Yorkshire’s finest ales, or shredding a solo on a glitter-encrusted guitar, he commanded the stage with a charisma that’s equal parts Freddie Mercury and David Lee Roth. Brother Dan Hawkins’ guitar work was equally stellar, laying down riffs with precision, while bassist Frankie Poullain and drummer Rufus Tiger Taylor kept the rhythm tight and thunderous.
The setlist unfurled like a rock odyssey: “Barbarian” snarled, “Motorheart” pulsed, and “Heart Explodes” softened the edges. “The Battle for Gadget Land” and “Japanese Prisoner of Love” brought their signature absurdity, while “Friday Night” stirred nostalgia. “Walking Through Fire” added a melodic twist, building to “I Believe in a Thing Called Love,” where a “Christmas Time” snippet sparked a phone-free, roof-raising singalong—a birthday gift from the crowd.
The encore—“Weekend in Rome,” “I Hate Myself,” and the epic “Love on the Rocks With No Ice”—stretched into a riff-driven triumph, Dan’s solos dueling with Justin’s falsetto. The Darkness may not rule the charts like they did in 2003, but this York night proved their live fire burns bright. Hawkins, turning 50 with a sash-twirling moment and unrelenting energy, led a band that thrives on rock’s joy—proving age is no match for their enduring, unscripted magic.
Photo Copyright © Jo Forrest
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