Twenty years after the release of Permission to Land, rock legends The Darkness hit the road on a tour supporting the reissue of their massively successful debut album. The US leg of the Permission to Land 20th Anniversary Tour wrapped up in Washington, DC, Sunday night at the storied 9:30 Club.
Permission To Land was released in 2003; it was met with immediate success, powered by the single “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” I was able to briefly catch the band the following summer at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was excited to see them but got dragged away by my aunt and cousin after a few songs; we had just seen Prince and they wanted to get home. After Sunday night, I’m very sorry it’s taken 19 years for me to see the band again. Better to be late to the party than to never show up at all, I suppose.
The band (frontman Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, and Rufus Tiger Taylor) wasted no time, launching into “Black Shuck,” “Get Your Hands Off of My Woman,” and “Growing on Me,” the first three tracks of Permission to Land. From there it felt like barely contained, delightful chaos, fueled by Hawkins himself who, by the way, sounds just as good as he did 20 years ago.
Clad in a jumpsuit reminiscent of 1970s Freddie Mercury, Hawkins filled the entire club with his charisma and mischievous spirit, jumping in the air, doing a handstand on the drum riser, joking with the crowd, and stepping onto the barrier from the stage. He playfully teased a few dudes in the audience; one man was scolded for wearing a non-licensed Darkness t-shirt to the show. His punishment? Hawkins removed the shirt from the man and wore it himself for a bit before handing it back.
But the fans mostly screamed and sang along to every song. Everywhere I looked, people were smiling, including myself. I giggled like an idiot the entire time I was in the photo pit because it was all so much fun—even though we photographers had to climb over each other to get around the tight pit. I must have looked nuts.
With Justin Hawkins doing the heavy lifting of keeping the crowd engaged, the rest of the band could get down to the business of sounding just incredible. These are mature, very talented, and cool musicians who obviously give all they’ve got to show their loyal fans a great time. I’m kicking myself for not seeing these guys every chance I had.
By the end of the set, Hawkins asked the audience to put away their cell phones, pointing out that the gig was sold out and admonished everyone for wanting to record the show for everyone who decided not to buy a ticket. He then brought out Paris Monster to join in on an “epic” rendition of “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” Instead of filming the song, the crowd was instructed to “bounce,” which it did. The Darkness would return for a pajama party encore, treating the crowd to “I Love You 5 Times” and “Love On the Rocks With No Ice.” What a great time.
Joining The Darkness on this celebration of their first album was Paris Monster, a duo from Brooklyn, New York. Described by others as a “two-man, psych-funk orchestra,” the band is project of Josh Dion and Geoff Kraly. Going into Sunday night, this description got my attention. I’m fond of a good rock duo and the Dion’s multitasking—he handles vocals, drums, and synth—made me think of Sweden’s Bror Gunnar Jansson. I looked forward to seeing Dion and Kraly live.
It’s amazing to see. Dion handles vocals, drums, and synth all at once, while Geoff Kraly handles the bass and eurorack. The sound is soulful and funky, much larger than one might expect from a duo. Paris Monster’s debut full length album, released in January, is Lamplight; it has received rave reviews from those in the know.
It was a rowdy and joyous end to the US leg of the tour. The Darkness takes the anniversary celebration to Europe in November, beginning in Berlin on November 7.
PARIS MONSTER
THE DARKNESS SETLIST
Black Shuck
Get Your Hands Off My Woman
Growing on Me
The Best of Me
Makin Out
Givin Up
Love is Only a Feeling
Curse of the Tollund Man
Stuck in a Rut
How Dare You Call This Love
Street Spirit
Holding My Own
Friday Night
I Believe in a Thing Called Love
I Love You 5 Times
Love on the Rocks with No Ice
