Venue: Bristol Beacon

Date: 2025-03-25T19:57:01+0000

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.

Setlist

Originally published on MusoMuso.