OMG - The Darkness are reborn

[FELINEGUITARS]

OK - it isn't exactly news that the Darkness have reformed with their original lineup and are playing a few festivals and have lined up some warm up gigs.

But OMG are they back on form !

I saw them last night at Shepherds Bush and I swear I have never seen them so on form.
Dan has pretty much always been reliable , but his guitar tone last night was spot on.

The big bonus was that Justin has definitely rediscovered his mojo and his performance last night was the best I have ever seen him.
As well as being visibly back in shape his voice seems better and stronger than ever.
As ever it seems stronger in his high falsetto than in the lower regions but I was impressed when he did his Freddie Mercury style  showing off - only a few octaves higher than Freddie used to do.

Setwise here is what they played - mostly taken from their first album although they aired a few new tunes too.

Bareback
Black Shuck
Growing On Me
Get Your Hands Off My Woman
One Way Ticket
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us
Love Is Only A Feeling
Friday Night
Is It Just Me?
Concrete
Cannonball
Stuck in a Rut
Givin' Up
I Believe In A Thing Called Love
Encore:
Love On The Rocks With No Ice

[Ian Price]

Would love to see them again. Last saw them at Alexandra Palace just after One Way Ticket.... came out. They were great fun that night and pretty much on form. Not everyone's cup of tea but I like them.

[Philly Q]

I'm not sure what I think of them any more.  Loved the first album, loved the humour - I never thought of them as a "parody" band - but the second album was a big disappointment. 

And then Justin turned into an utter tit.  Not only that, but he had that wanky new band and that failed "Song for Europe" entry....

So.... I'm treating the second coming with suspicion.

Didn't you say you'd been working on a Strat for Justin?

[FELINEGUITARS]

Seriously Philly - it was like they were prior to the release of the first album
I too saw them at Ally Pally and last night was far superior
stage was pretty stripped of gimmicks other than good lighting and confetti cannons on one song but the music did the talking instead - was really good

I think Justin has taken stock of a lot of things and certainly is keen to get back to where they once were
Having Frankie back on bass was great as well.

As far as working for them - I have refretted Dan's black LP (known as Black Shuck) and am doing a refret and reprofile of Justin's 1971 Fender strat (the one he was pictured with in last months Classic Rock magazine)

[horsehead]

Good news, I gotta say I love the Darkness...my kinda rock

[AndyR]

Good news :D

I saw them at Hammersmith on a "recovering from sore throat" night, I understand that Justin was "below par" that night, but he, the band, everything, were absolutely superb...

I have to admit the second album seemed a bit pants - I got it as a christmas pressie, and I've probably only listened to it once or twice. Mebbe I'll give it another go, surely it can't be that bad! :lol:

[Loomer]

I've always had a soft spot for these lads. They are a bit tongue-in-cheek, but the music is still seriously well crafted. Good to hear they're back on form, and Justin has kicked the habit. Drugs tend to turn even the finest of lads into utter tw@ts, as we saw with him.

[Ian Price]

Agree that the first album is great. I must be one of the few who really like the second album as well (apart from English Country Garden and Hazel Eyes).

[FELINEGUITARS]

Just announced a tour as well

WINTER 2011 UK & IRELAND TOUR!

8 November     LIVERPOOL, O2 Academy             0844 477 2000
9 November     EDINBURGH, HMV Picture House         0844 847 1740
10 November    GLASGOW, O2 Academy             08444 999 990
12 November    NEWCASTLE, O2 Academy             0844 477 2000
13 November    MANCHESTER, Academy             0161 832 1111
14 November    BRISTOL, O2 Academy             0844 477 2000
16 November    BRIGHTON, Dome                0844 477 2000
17 November    SOUTHAMPTON, Guildhall             023 8063 2601
18 November    BIRMINGHAM, O2 Academy         0844 477 2000
20 November    CAMBRIDGE, Corn Exchange         01223 357 851
21 November     SHEFFIELD, O2 Academy             0844 477 2000
22 November    NOTTINGHAM, Rock City             0845 413 4444
24 November    NORWICH, UEA                 01603 508 050
25 November    LONDON, HMV Hammersmith Apollo    0844 844 4748

3 December    CORK Savoy
4 December    DUBLIN Olympia
5 December    BELFAST Ulster Hall

[Modular1]

Funny Justin anecdote in the Lemmy movie. Dave Grohl stiched him up a treat.

[blue]

well, i'm certainly happy to see them back.  i thought they were a great band, and larger than life like rock'n'roll should be!  some people loved them and some people hated them, but everyone had an opinion about them!  i suppose if Justin dressed as a pirate and someone said "you are without doubt the worst rock band i've ever heard of." he could reply, "ah, but you have heard of us" :)

they're playing three shows in Ireland, i'll definately be at one, quite likely two, and we're just discussing the possibility of all three :)

when they were split up, i thought the Stone Gods album was ok, but i liked the Hot leg record a lot.  i think it showed that all the charm, flair and wit lived on Justin's side of the bus

[FELINEGUITARS]

I loved this cover of The Pointer Sisters' Automatic that Hotleg did - only Justin could get away with this.

http://youtu.be/YGOuL1zQmOc

[dave_mc]

sweet :D

[sgmypod]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo thought they had gone away for good