The Darkness - Show why they are so important to the UK Rock scene!!!

*****

Rock is not cancelled in Southend

The Darkness ***** arrived in Southend this month as part of their 'Easter is Cancelled' tour, which is another lovely slice of Classic Rock that is not to be ignored. It's fair to say that after listening to their new album, I was quite excited to see them perform. The new album feels like they have really taken their time to make a great Rock record, to make sure they didn't disappoint their die hard fans.

Lead singer Justin Hawkins impressive vocals and charismatic charm feels much more crafted to previous albums, he really has worked at his art and the work has paid off. A real strong sense of maturity has embrased The Darkness, without losing any of their Glam Rock style and catchy melodies. I think the addition in recent years of drummer Rufus Tiger Taylor has really paid off, he has really enhanced the bands sound and look.

Of course everyone knows that Rufus' dad is legendary Queen drummer Roger Taylor, and I really think he is in the right band. Because you have always been able to hear the huge Queen influence the band has always had, even in their early material... just in places with a slighly heavier edge. But for me bass player Frankie Poullain has been an important element to the band. I think this was realised by everyone, in the time he spent out of the band... their was an element that just was missing.

When The Darkness set begun the lights were low, with a faint blue light revealing the band taking to the stage. You then hear Justin Hawkins singing from the sides waiting for his moment to take to the stage, and take you on a 'One way ticket to Hell... and Back'. But this is an evening to celebrate their new album 'Easter is Cancelled', which got to number ten in the UK album chart, and contains the three hit singles 'Rock and Roll deserves to Die, Heart Explodes' and the title track of the record 'Easter is Cancelled'.

As Justin crept onto the stage, the crowd began to cheer and boom, it was pretty much full on energy for the entire show. The set was set into two halfs, the new material of the 'Easter is Cancelled' album in it's entirity, and then a full on greatest hits set including songs like 'Love is only a Feeling, Growing on Me, Solid Gold, Givin' Up, Get your hands off my Woman, I believe in a thing called Love' and an encore of their Christmas extravaganza of a song 'Christmas Time (Don't let the bells End)'... which ends the set off in the right way (a real treat).

The Lowestoft boys bring so much fun to their set, the crowd feels involved from the start to the finish. The Darkness really produce Classic Rock the right way, with sounds of the 80's and 90's. I really wish their was more bands that could do this these days, in a decade that seems to be producing a lot of bland muisc. The Darkness take you back to a time when bands with larger than life, and filled giant stadiums and really put on a show. I wish their was more bands like The Darkness, and tonight's show was really great value for money. A stadium show, in the Cliff's Pavillion by the seaside... Southend Rocks.

The Darkness - Setlist
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'Easter is Cancelled'
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Rock and Roll deserves to Die
How can I lose your Love
Live 'Til I Die
Heart Explodes
Deck Chair
Easter is Cancelled
Heavy Metal Lover
In another Life
Choke on It
We are the guitar Men

'Greatest Hits'
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One way Ticket
Barbarian
Growing on Me
Japanese prisoner of Love
Love is only a Feeling
Solid Gold
Givin' Up
Get your hands off my Woman
I believe in a thing called Love
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Christmas Time (Don't let the bells End)

Review and Photo's by Matt Gardiner

Check Out! the Video for 'Rock and Roll deserves to Die' Below...