Photos and Review by Max Stewart
When The Darkness rolls into town, it’s a full-on glam-rock circus with enough swagger, falsettos, and theatrics to burn the house down. Their fans are loyal and for good reason, there really are no other bands commanding the stage like The Darkness in 2025. At Atlanta‘s Masquerade on a September evening, Justin Hawkins burst out strutting and commanding the stage with authority. Between him, brother Dan Hawkins on guitar, Frankie Poullain on bass, and Rufus Taylor pounding the kit, the band are a fully-formed rock ‘n’ roll unit that captivate at every turn.
What stood out was how the new tracks from Dreams on Toast were woven seamlessly into the setlist. Songs like “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy,” “Mortal Dread,” “Walking Through Fire,” and “The Longest Kiss” didn’t feel like second-class citizens, they breathed easily alongside the more well-known songs of the bands tenure. Tunes like “Growing On Me” and “Love Is Only a Feeling” really sent the crowd into a frenzy. And the larger-than-life “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” pushed past mere excitement and into something closer to exultation.
If The Darkness show is half music, half theater, the humor and interaction with the audience are the mortar that holds it together. Justin Hawkins didn’t shy away from jokes, barbs, or showy stunts. He had the audience do a march towards either end of the venue during “Waling Through Fire,” which turned out surprisingly well given its a new tune. At one point he asked everyone to put the phones away and be in the moment for their biggest hit (“I Believe in a Thing Called Love”), a bold ask in 2025, met with cheers and a few cheaters. He actually teased a fan who didn’t comply. Hawkins surely ain’t shy and was born to front a rock band. His night was spent climbing on drum risers, striking impressive airborne kicks, and he even did a headstand. The stage became a playground for all things rock.
The Darkness showed that after all these years, they haven’t lost their fire, their wit, or their capacity to make you sing until you lose your voice. Dreams on Toast is a fantastic album that suggests growth, not departure, and their old songs served as anchors that brought the nostalgia without stagnation. If you want an unpretentious, good timing night of rock ‘n’ roll, go see The Darkness live.
