The Darkness – Live at Shepherd’s Bush Empire 16/12/2021

Fresh off the release of their new album Motorheart, The Darkness are back on the road for their annual and extensive Winter tour around the UK.

While some of their recent material has been sorely lacking that hooky, high energy of their debut album, songs like the tongue in cheek `Sticky Situations` have that theatrical quality of early Queen crossed with The Sweet’s harder edged glam rock. Its a refreshing return to form.

However, tonight The Darkness are clearly in the holiday spirit and cleverly give the audience exactly what it wants. They end up playing most of `Permission To Land` tonight, brilliantly scattered throughout tonight’s setlist, making sure energy levels never dip.

`Please lets put our phones away and enjoy this one together` says Justin Hawkins before starting the track that sends the whole venue wild. Even after countless plays `I Believe In A Thing Called Love`.

After a brief interlude, the band return to the stage in full Christmas garb. From Justin in a  Santa suit to drummer Rufus Taylor as a beer soaked Christmas tree, its impossible not to smile. The Darkness begin their encore by Whamming the entire audience with a short cover of `Last Christmas` and Cliff Richard’s `Mistletoe and Wine` before they commence their own Christmas hit `Don’t Let The Bells Ring`. With a massive sing along and paper snow falling from the roof, its the perfect end a festive and hugely enjoyable night. In these uncertain times, its good to have The Darkness and, by extension Christmas, back on track.