The Darkness packed Revolution Hall on Monday night and delivered a sharp, high-energy set that blended fan favorites with material from their newest release from earlier this year, Dreams on Toast. It was a straightforward show with no overblown theatrics, just a veteran band having a great time and playing like they still enjoy every minute onstage.

They opened with “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy,” immediately pulling the crowd into full participation mode. “Growing on Me” and “Get Your Hands Off My Woman” followed quickly, both sounding tight and punchy. Justin Hawkins’ voice remains the real headline; the falsetto that made the band impossible to ignore 20 years ago is still going strong and remains a key differentiator for the group.

Tracks from Dreams on Toast like “Mortal Dread” and “Motorheart” fit seamlessly alongside the older catalog sing-alongs like “Love Is Only a Feeling” and “Givin Up” from the Permission to Land debut back in 2003. The newer songs carried the same mix of melody and bite, and the audience seemed just as invested. “Walking Through Fire” and “Heart Explodes” drew strong reactions, and Dan Hawkins’ guitar work carried many of the songs throughout the night. 

The band’s two covers, “Dead Flowers”  from The Rolling Stones and “The Power of Love”  by Jennifer Rush served as well-timed resets in the middle of a loud, fast set. The back half of the night leaned on the essentials: partial but crowd-pleasing runs through “Black Shuck” and “Knockers,” and a huge sing-along for “One Way Ticket.”

As expected, “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” was the peak-volume moment of the night, with the crowd desperately trying to do their best Justin Hawkins impressions. The show closed with “I Hate Myself” as a final nod to the latest album and left the audience buzzing on their way out.