The Darkness
w/ Diarrhea Planet
The Regency Ballroom
San Francisco, CA
March 30, 2018
Photos and review by Jared Stossel.
I'll be completely frank: I didn't really know much about The Darkness and their music other than "I Believe In A Thing Called Love". After watching their seventeen-song set at The Regency Ballroom a couple weekends ago, I felt like a dick for every time I had ever said "there are no modern rock bands carrying the torch". For every rock fan out there that has said this, look no further than The Darkness. They're carrying that very torch that all rock fans have said is barely flickering, on the brink of being extinguished, yet they carry it brightly lit and high above their heads. If you were in that crowded Regency Ballroom on March 30th, you know that you played witness to something special.
The English four-piece is comprised of brothers Justin and Dan Hawkins, bassist Frankie Poullain, and drummer Rufus Taylor. Their performance was one I would consider flawless, from the live sound mixing, all the way down to their stage presence and Hawkins' commandment of the room. Their set list spanned their full career, pulling tracks from each album that's made up their extensive career. While a good chunk of the songs came from the band's debut album, Permission To Land, a substantial number of songs were performed from Pinewood Smile, the band's most recent studio album, which was released late last year by Cooking Vinyl.
The Darkness are a band that have been playing for years, and they perform exactly as they should: full of energy, hitting every moment with grandiose rock and roll that's reminiscent of the 1970s, with a modern take that's entirely their own. If you're a supporter of rock music, or just good music in general, The Darkness are a band that are not to be missed. Make it a point to bring one of their shows into your life.
The Darkness Set List
Open Fire
Love Is Only a Feeling
Southern Trains
Black Shuck
One Way Ticket
Givin' Up
All the Pretty Girls
Barbarian
Buccaneers of Hispaniola
Friday Night
Every Inch of You
Solid Gold
Stuck in a Rut
Get Your Hands Off My Woman
Growing on Me
Encore:
Japanese Prisoner of Love
I Believe in a Thing Called Love
The Darkness
www.thedarknesslive.com
www.facebook.com/thedarknessofficial
@thedarkness
Diarrhea Planet
www.diarrheaplanet.com
www.facebook.com/DiarrheaPlanet
@DiarrheaPlanet
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