It’s been a while since I have seen The Darkness live. So tonight I’m ready and excited to see them again. They’re here in support of their newest album ‘Dreams on Toast’ and I can’t wait to hear some of those songs tonight.
Ok I can’t say I’ve been this impressed by a support in a long time. RAGEFLOWER all I can say is wow. What a voice, what songs, this is absolute talent. I had no idea what to expect but this wasn’t it and I’m truly taken a back by this. Treating us to tunes I’ve never heard but very soon to be played often this set is a perfect introduction to a new artist for me and for many here tonight. One to watch!!
9pm exactly. The lights go down and it’s time. As the intro plays we eagerly await The Darkness to take the stage. Guitars ring and it’s time for ‘Rock and Roll Party Cowboy’ and what a perfect opener. The band is on fire and Justin showing us his shredding this early in is amazing. With a “fuck off” the opener is done and we head back to the beginning with ‘Growing on Me’ and judging by how loud the crowd is for this one they all know it and have been here for a while. What a song! A quick chat with the crowd we give him a D and and an arkness and we stick with Permission to Land for the classic ‘Get Your Hands Off My Woman’ and three songs in Justin is down in the crowd and going for a swim, this band has always been on and tonight they are definitely on. Impressive!! We go back to the newest album and get ‘Mortal Dread’ and that riff is straight up old school rock and rol. Hearing these new songs live is a treat as they truly take on a different vibe when played this loud.
The very heavy ‘Motorheart’ is up next and Rufus is a monster on this one, great choice for the set. Up next from the new album with ‘Walking Through Fire’ and what a tune. Explaining the choreography for the song is classic Justin then watching that executed was just perfection. You truly have to be here to see it in action. That’s an amazing song. ‘Barbarian’ gets things heavy again and that’s always fun to hear live as the outro is a monster. Time for a big power ballad with ‘Love Is Only a Feeling’ and this one got the exact reaction it deserved as it began. Dan and Justin both killing it here and that was close to the biggest reaction of the night. Staying again with the debut for ‘Givin’ Up’ and the love for this album is huge. Some excellent singalongs in this one. A little change up as Rufus takes lead vocals and Dan jumps on drums for ‘My Only’ and that was impressive, as was Justin’s solo in it. This band is a musical powerhouse, truly. Also I haven’t mentioned Frankie yet, the coolest motherfucker in the band! Say no more.
Rufus starts mashing the skins for the next song but they change things up they throw in ‘Black Shuck’ which is unexpected and they nail it. Excellent inclusion!! Now we’re back and Rufus hits that beat again for ‘Heart Explodes’ and I haven’t heard this one live before and it’s now a new live favourite. Throwing in a quick cover of ‘The Power of Love’ is actually really bloody good. It’s the Jennifer Rush song by the way, not Huey. ‘The Longest Kiss’ takes us back to Dreams on Toast and this one is a fun bop. Tonight is Friday so it’s apt that we get ‘Friday Night’ and pretty sure the only song in the world to feature the word badminton. Always a classic to hear. Dan hits the opening riff to ‘Japanese Prisoner of Love‘ and the band take it into full gear. That was heavy and played to perfection. You forget just how heavy some of these songs are and just how big of a rock band The Darkness are.
Justin noodles at front stage before the only song it could be of course it’s ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’ and that was just awesome. The crowd was bouncing, arms waving, and it’s just a good time. Oh and for the official bootleg video of tonight’s version you can visit nickyrodriguez95 on Instagram.
The band leave the stage for a quick breather and are back for one more after a quick happy birthday to Nick and Dave. The closer is the awesome ‘I Hate Myself’ and the bands new stuff us truly awesome, watching them smash this out, not miss a note and just show us why they’re still around and one of the best live bands you’ll see today. They get their deserved applause from a crowd that had a damn delightful evening. Once again, give me a D give me an arkness!!
See you next time, lads.
Essential Information
Venue: The Enmore Theatre – Sydney
Date: February 27, 2026
Website: http://www.thedarknesslive.com
Support band: RAGEFLOWER
Presented by: SBM Presents
Set List:
Rock and Roll Party Cowboy
Growing on Me
Get Your Hands Off My Woman
Mortal Dread
Motorheart
Walking Through Fire
Barbarian
Love Is Only a Feeling
Givin’ Up
My Only
Black Shuck
Heart Explodes
The Power of Love
The Longest Kiss
Friday Night
Japanese Prisoner of Love
I Believe in a Thing Called Love
I Hate Myself
