Tonight, Bristol’s Beacon was a rock ‘n’ roll carnival with a surprising theme: the fearless antics of a 50-year-old man embracing comedic vulnerability—Justin Hawkins, ladies and gentlemen, THE DARKNESS. Celebrating the upcoming release of their eighth studio album, Dreams on Toast, They proved that they haven't mellowed with age, instead delivering a sold-out spectacle filled with infectious energy and gloriously absurd moments.
Fans, dressed head-to-toe in fresh tour merchandise, flooded The Beacon early, eagerly to catch their special support act, Ash. And they didn’t disappoint! The indie-rock legends whipped the crowd into a euphoric frenzy with timeless classics like Goldfinger and Girl From Mars. Even a cheeky Harry Belafonte cover, transformed into a Ramones-esque punk party anthem, had heads bopping. Their set reached its climax with the fiery Burn Baby Burn, leaving fans buzzing—a stellar appetiser before the main course.
Enter The Darkness, and the stage erupts in chaos. Smoke machines, vivid blue lights, and a fiery red logo build the suspense as Justin Hawkins emerges, clad in white and glittery cowboy boots, with his trademark flamboyance. However, boots don’t mix well with a slippery stage floor, prompting an amusing costume tweak—a harbinger of the hilarity to come.
The set explodes with Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Cowboy, a raucous new track that sets the tone for an evening of wild theatrics. Hawkins takes showmanship to new heights, literally, performing a headstand with synchronised leg claps during Growing on Me and belting out high-pitched glory on Get Your Hands Off My Woman, defying recent illness.
The audience, completely enraptured, joined in a call-and-response frenzy, devil horns aloft. Bristol locals, including members of Mould, roared along, embodying the joy of live rock. Hawkins fueled the chaos further with self-deprecating humour about his all-white outfit potentially betraying him in ways we won't detail—a recurring gag lasting the entire set.
From the sweeping romance of Love Is Only a Feeling, paused to demand fans ditch their cameras and live in the moment, to the quirky montage of drummer Rufus Tiger Taylor and his beloved dog during My Only, every moment felt hilariously personal. Hawkins was equal parts charismatic showman and mischievous storyteller.
But it was the finale that ignited the true nostalgia bomb. The euphoric I Believe in a Thing Called Love unleashed the crowd's worst (or best?) falsettos as they bounced around like it was 2003. Wrapping up with their new single I Hate Myself, which proves endlessly catchy, The Darkness closed the night on a high note.
As fans spilled out into the Bristol night, there was one lingering thought: Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, anyone? The Darkness may well be deserving of such a grand stage. Until then, they remain an enduring force—forever capable of delivering rock ‘n’ roll escapism.
Words and Pictures by Matt Barnes
