What a delight it is to have The Darkness roll through town. The veteran British rockers are touring to promote their latest album, Dreams on Toast, and brought their always fun party to Washington, DC’s Lincoln Theatre Sunday night.
Taking the Lincoln Theatre stage ahead of schedule, supporting artist Mark Daly brings classic rock sensibility with an Irish flair to the tour. Hailing from Cork, Ireland, Daly was discovered in Spain when music manager Brian Message attended a gig by Daly’s band, The Voodoos. Impressed by the band’s raw, hard rock sound, Daly and his crew were brought to London, where they recorded an EP. Since then, Daly has worked and toured with the likes of Geoff Tate, Ritchie Kotzen, and producer Brian Virtue.
On Sunday night in DC, Daly brought the fire during a quick set showcasing his songwriting. Several of the songs (such as “Better Off Alone” and “I Wanna Be More”) come from Devil’s Arms, released last year. Daly clearly shows that his keeping the spirit of classic rock alive, and the fans at the Lincoln Theatre showed that in 2025 there is still an audience for it. Daly expressed his appreciation for American audiences, pointing out his observation that they always show up to support the opening act. The crowd, who were mostly seated during the set, responded well to Daly and his band, and rewarded him with a standing ovation at the end.
Against a black backdrop with “The Darkness” emblazoned in red, The Darkness (Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, and Rufus Taylor) strolled onto the darkened stage to the usual sounds of ABBA’s “Arrival” woven into the cheers of the band’s faithful, ready for a good time. They opened with “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy” from Dreams on Toast, released in March. With several months to sit with the new material, the DC crowd already knew the words and sang along.
What followed is what The Darkness has come to be known for: one hell of a good time. A ninety-minute memory wipe of everything going wrong in the world, in an environment where adults submit to rock and roll silliness. All this led by the master of ceremonies, Justin Hawkins.
The opening song was followed by two from the album that started it all, Permission To Land, “Growing on Me” and “Get Your Hands Off My Woman” which featured, not just Hawkins’ famous falsetto, but his now signature headstand-on-the-drum riser, swinging his legs in time to the beat. On this tour, drummer Rufus Taylor takes break from beating his drum kit to come down front and perform “My Only,” a sweet, ’60s-inspired song that is about his dog (aww). His voice is lovely!
While Permission to Land and Dreams on Toast contribute the most to the set list, The Darkness pepper the show with tributes to their rock roots. Sunday night this included a cover of Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls” and the fan-requested “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith. Late in the show, Hawkins announced they were going to play their “most famous song ever” before launching into “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” The encore consisted of two more new songs, “Weekend in Rome” and “I Hate Myself.”
Throughout, Hawkins and the rest of the crew had the crowd eating out of their hands. Engaging with audience jokesters, getting everyone to wave their hands back and forth and march in place. Making up stories about “Sir” Abraham Lincoln. Shirtless Justin Hawkins leads the crowd in a lot of celebratory goofing off. I found myself envying everyone in the room who presumably have been following the band across Virginia and elsewhere on this tour. I need more of this in my life.
I’ll be blunt about it: in 2025, there is no doubt that The Darkness are one of the best bands you can see live. These are very talented, very cool, veteran rock musicians who do their jobs well while ensuring their fans get their money’s worth. A true public service.
Here’s hoping The Darkness return to Washington DC very soon. The Eastern US leg of the Dreams on Toast tour wraps up in Cleveland on September 21. Soon after, they launch their European tour in Brussels, Belgium on September 30. Then they’re back in the US, touring Texas and the rest of the west starting in November.
MARK DALY
