The Darkness & Bad Nerves in Glasgow.
Reviewed and shot by Paul Storr
December 11, 2023
Glasgow, Scotland @ Barrowlands
Opening the show, we had rock n rollers Bad Nerves. The onstage energy is palpable, and this transfered across to the ever filling venue - with the crowd getting on their side from the very start. Think of Sex Pistols Vs Ramones with a touch of The Hives thrown in and you're not far off what the band produced.
Highlights of the set came in with "Radio Punk" and their new single "USA", before "Dreaming" finished off their set perfectly.
The lights dropped and The Darkness took to the stage, launching in with "Welcome Tae Glasgae". This song has not been played on any other nights of the tour, but judging by the fact it is about this city and mentions tonight's venue, there's no way it could not have been played! With this tour being a celebration of 20 years of The Darkness phenomenal debut album Permission To Land, we get the album in full - but not in the conventional start to finish style. Instead we had the full album along with the B sides.
Frontman Justin Hawkins was in brilliant form with a Freddie Mercury esque call and response with the crowd before a rousing rendition of "Get Your Hands Off My Woman", which also saw Justin performing a handstand on the drum riser. Justin's banter with the crowd was superb. "We're gonna play a song which deals with me doing drugs" he says, as the crowd cheers. Justin then hit back with "don't cheer! They nearly killed me! Let's cheer for them nearly killing me!" and they then launch in to "Givin' Up".
A main highlight of the set came in "Love Is Only A Feeling" which saw the main guitar riff taking over the sold out venue.
We also got a partial cover of Radiohead's "Street Spirit (Fade Out)” which led in to "Holding My Own", with the main set being closed off with "Friday Night" (Justin does a call and response with the crowd again, singling out a certain section for not joining in only to be told by guitarist/brother Dan Hawkins that it is because of a medical issue (thankfully everyone is okay!), "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)", a snippet cover of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" and of course, "I Believe In A Thing Called Love". The latter saw the whole room belting back every song word.
The crowd split in 2 for a chant of "D" "Arkness" before the band came back on stage again, with Justin acknowledging the chant and having us all do it again.
We got "I Love You 5 Times" which sees most members swapping positions. Dan Hawkins was on drums, drummer Rufus Taylor on bass, bassist Frankie Poullain on acoustic guitar and guitar tech "Softy" on keyboards. The song was preceded by Justin teaching "Softy" keyboard parts and singing funny songs about each band member in the process.
The night was closed off with a storming "Love On The Rocks With No Ice", which had Justin on a roadies shoulders going through the crowd, solo-ing to his hearts content!
The Darkness are one of the best live bands you will ever see, and Permission To Land is one of the best albums ever made. This tour is certainly one not to be missed!
Bad Nerves
The Darkness
