REVIEWS
‘The Darkness make the gags work because the songs work.’
The Darkness
Brighton Dome
Still got it…
★ Tonight’s opening band Massive Wagons earn nine out of ten for effort, but score much less on impact. Brought in at short notice, they last gigged in September so ought to be pretty much road-sharp. But even after five albums their noise is more highenergy than high art; Slade without the choruses, at best. Their attitude is spot-on, but Bangin’ In Your Stereo is the only song that comes even close to the impact of any in the headliners’ set.
That set begins with Welcome Tae Glasgae, from new album Motorheart. Ironic, considering how far south The Darkness are tonight. But no matter, Glasgae is bang-on, and segues perfectly out of whisky-flavoured intro music Arrival. The band then keep the travel theme going with the way more familiar One Way Ticket from their second album.
After , a second new-album song, is interrupted by a distressed Justin Hawkins: “This is my first show for a while wearing these faux-leather trousers, and they have got a bit baggy in the arse area,” he says, grimacing, turning sideways and grabbing a handful of surplus trouser to indicate his shame. “I feel like a man who has taken his speedboat to the lake but has left it on the trailer when he should be waterskiing.” His analysis confounds, but who cares? We all had to provide proof of
