Often times you go to just see the headlining band. However, you might just find some new great music.
That was what happened tonight when I went to Irving Plaza to catch the Darkness.
First up was Brooklyn foursome Best Behavior. The local group opened the show on a high note with their swinging and happy garage pop. Their indie beats are a treat for your ears.
Next was RavenEye a UK based trio. They warmed up the crowd up with their intense and heavy rock beats. They reminded me of Lenny Kravitz meets Incubus with a hint of 60’s rock.
The fusion of heart pounding melodies and harmonious vocals creates powerful and compelling music that will appeal to all your senses.
Finally at around 9:56 pm The Darkness took the stage to a packed house. I was sandwiched between a bunch of guys who were ecstatic for the show to start. They rocked out all night long. At one point I heard the dude next to me go, “they are so awesome!” Indeed they were.
Lead vocalist Justin Hawkins takes the reigns and knows how to lead the band. He reminds me of a mix between Mick Jagger and the late Scott Wyland the way he prances and dances seductively on stage. He basks in the limelight and is definitely a performer. He sashayed across the stage with finesse and grandeur. He is a rock god to the men and a heartthrob to the ladies. This is evident in his effortless way to command the crowd. Ladies throw their brazier on stage as a sign of affection, while guys hang on his every word.
The band knows how to wow an audience with their fun and exciting show. They are having a great time on stage and that high energy flowed out into the crowd.
It is great how they engage their audience. Hawkins reacts to the crowd and cracks some funny jokes. One audience member was spotted and called out by Hawkins asking him to sing back a high note. He successfully sang back with a pitch similar Hawkins.
They played 90 minutes of audacious rock. The crowded was enthused with every song. They played fan favorites like “Growing on Me,” “Black Shuck,” “Givin’ Up,” “Friday Night,” “Every Inch of You,” “Get Your Hands Off My Woman,” and “Stuck in a Rut.”
They finished with the popular “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.”
The encore was a in your face excitement when Justin Hawkins came out playing the guitar on the shoulders of someone all through the crowd. He then climbed to the top of the stage and dove into the crowd. It was a great ending to a face melting rock show.
