By Chyrisse Tabone, Rock At Night Tampa
Live Review: The Darkness – Motorheart Tour-The Ritz Ybor, Tampa, Florida – April 12, 2022
Rock At Night loves The Darkness. We have been covering their gigs in the UK and US for some time—and even featured them in our Summer 2021 GLAM ROCK print issue. Who can resist their high energy rock, cheeky lyrics, and of course, glammy frocks of Justin Hawkins and company? Their unhinged wit speaks volumes when you gaze at the album cover of Easter is Cancelled.
The band was touring hard the last number of years until COVID hit the world in Spring 2020. The band was actually very active during this down period. Justin Hawkins began his YouTube commentary show Justin Hawkins Rides Again Now with 110K subscribers, the show features smart and entertaining insight into music and videos.
The Darkness released a 12-song album Motorheart in 2021 and toured the EU and UK in Fall 2021 as COVID infections were on the decline. They embarked on a tour of North America, beginning in San Diego on March 9th and ending on April 24th in Boston. It has been four years since they performed in the U.S. and Rock At Night was there with bells on to see them at the historic landmark Ritz Ybor in Tampa, Florida. The 100-year-old venue was filled with devoted fans wearing band t-shirts and black and white striped pants, often worn by Hawkins in the past.
The night’s show began with support by The Dead Deads but unfortunately we missed their act. Starting promptly at 9 p.m. and performing for a good 90 minutes non-stop, The Darkness gave Tampa a wild ride through their catalog of old favorites including “Growing on Me”, “Black Shuck”, “Love Is Only a Feeling”, and “Get Your Hands Off My Woman” from their debut album Permission to Land. With lots of humor, Hawkins was throwing guitar picks up at a hanging disco ball and into the audience as bassist Frankie Poullain bounced his yo-yo. Drummer Rufus Taylor is a monster behind the kit and was playing hard and non-stop. Guitarist Dan Hawkins stayed at stage right but occasionally played back-to-back with brother Justin.
Honestly, the band’s live performance is a must-see with its blend of glam rock (a few costume changes ensued), hard rock sensibility, and tongue-in-cheek humor. We were lovin’ Poullain’s wild afro and Hawkin’s tasseled cat suit.
Justin Hawkins acknowledged a couple of birthday boys in the audience, let an audience member sing with him, and did a little crowd surfing whilst singing, as arms raised with cell phones captured the spectacle.
The audience was treated to more recent hits like “It’s Love, Jim”, “Heart Explodes”, and “Japanese Prisoner of Love” from recent albums. But possibly a highlight was the encore. After loads of cheering, The Darkness returned to perform their beloved hit from 2002 “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” with Hawkin’s notable falsetto chorus.
Rock At Night left the show feeling giddy—just the way a great rock show should make you feel.
PHOTO GALLERY
TOUR
Motorheart Tour – 2022 North American dates:
3/9 San Diego, CA @The Observatory North Park
3/10 Las Vegas, NV @House of Blues
3/12 Tempe, AZ @Marquee Theatre
3/13 Santa Ana, CA @The Observatory
3/15 Los Angeles, CA @The Novo
3/16 San Francisco, CA @The Regency Ballroom
3/17 Portland, OR @Roseland Theater
3/18 Seattle, WA @The Showbox
3/20 Vancouver, BC @Vogue Theatre
3/22 Calgary, AB @The Palace Theatre
3/23 Edmonton, AB @Union Hall
3/25 Winnipeg, MB @The Park Theatre
3/26 Minneapolis, MN @Varsity Theater
3/28 Milwaukee, WI @The Rave/Eagles Club – The Rave Hall
3/29 Detroit, MI @The Majestic Theatre
3/30 Chicago, IL @Park West
4/1 Sauget, IL @Pop’s Nighclub & Concert Venue
4/2 Kansas City, MO @The Truman
4/3 Dallas, TX @Granada Theater
4/5 Austin, TX @Mohawk
4/6 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
4/8 Nashville, TN @Brooklyn Bowl
4/9 Atlanta, GA @The Masquerade
4/10 Orlando, FL @The Beacham Theatre
4/12 Tampa, FL @The Ritz Ybor
4/13 Fort Lauderdale, FL @Culture Room
4/15 Charlotte, NC @Neighborhood Theatre
4/16 Warrendale, PA @Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
4/18 New York, NY @Webster Hall
4/19 Toronto, ON @Phoenix Concert Theatre
4/20 Buffalo, NY @Town Ballroom
4/22 Asbury Park, NJ @Asbury Lanes
4/23 Philadelphia, PA @Brooklyn Bowl
4/24 Boston, MA @Royale
SOCIAL MEDIA
The Darkness INSTAGRAM WEBSITE I TWITTER I FACEBOOK
I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
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