Arts & Entertainment
 
 

The Darkness brings back flamboyant shows

by Bridget Brown
The Daily Cougar

The votes are in -- the kids love the Darkness. They enjoy 10 minute-long guitar solos, spandex jumpsuits and mind-numbing falsetto vocals. They're enthralled with singer Justin Hawkins' sex god disposition and his commanding stage presence. They swing their ponytails, they dance and they hold up their moms' lighters and try their best to hit those high notes.

The question is ? why?

The answer is ? because it's retro, and it's damn good.

Sunday night at Verizon Wireless Theatre, droves of fans came out to see the UK's sweethearts play a limited set list comprised from the group's American debut Permission to Land. The band made up for its lack of a catalog by educating the younger audience on stadium rock shows with over-the-top guitar solos, naked women and flamboyant costumes ? all while giving older rockers a taste of what music has lacked for the last 10 years.

By the third song, "Black Shuck," Hawkins' shirt was ripped down the middle. Later, he belted out "Get Your Hands off My Woman" in a pink-sequined number with spikes down the back and later played the encore, "Love On The Rocks With No Ice," in a pink and white striped one. Of course, train-wreck fashion and the shiny guitars switched between songs isn't all of the Darkness' appeal; the group's contentment with their image somehow made the performance seem less gimmicky. 

Hawkins' voice was the highlight of the performance. Making sure the audience was pitch-perfect was an ongoing gag throughout the evening, as Hawkins' stopped several songs for quirky "repeat after me" lectures.

"I Believe In A Thing Called Love" obviously got the most crowd response and will no doubt get plenty of rotation at every high school prom this May. 

The Darkness

Verizon Wireless Theater, 520 Texas Ave.

The verdict: Love the jumpsuit.
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