Concert Review
The Darkness
Waiting Room
Buffalo, NY
Tuesday May 3, 2016
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
The Darkness, the British rock band that came to prominence with their 2003 debut Permission To Land played the Waiting Room Tuesday evening. The show marked the band’s first ever Buffalo area performance and next to last show of their month long trek in the U.S. The humid confines of the club with all the lights made it a very hot and sticky affair giving the show an almost authentic feel of a NYC club.
Currently consisting of original members singer-guitarist Justin Hawkins, his brother Dan on guitar and bassist Frankie Poullain, the quartet was rounded out by drummer Rufus Taylor, son of Queen drummer Roger Taylor.
Highlights from the bands 100-minute performance included “Black Shuck” and “One Way Ticket” both had the crowd singing along with fists pumping in the air.
About midway through the set stagehands brought out an electric piano for a pair of rollicking cuts in “Friday Night” and “English Country Garden”. A stellar “Stuck In A Rut” led to the crowd shouting and singing the “Let’s Go Buffalo” chant. It was at this point the band broke into it’s biggest hit “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” which closed out the main set.
The band had to cancel a show just a few days before this show due to a throat infection suffered by singer Justin Hawkins. Hawkins was no worse for wear as he sang and pranced around without any issues. Perhaps the small stage being the only detraction as it seemed to restrict Hawkins at times. Perhaps having this show at the more spacious Town Ballroom would have made the show more enjoyable for the band as well as the fans.
Set List
Barbarian
Growing on Me
Mudslide
Black Shuck
Roaring Waters
Givin’ Up
One Way Ticket
Love Is Only a Feeling
Friday Night
English Country Garden
Every Inch of You
Get Your Hands Off My Woman
Stuck in a Rut
I Believe in a Thing Called Love
Encore
Concrete
Love on the Rocks With No Ice
