THE DARKNESS AT BROOKLYN BOWL NASHVILLE
The night kicked off with Mark Daly & The Ravens bringing raw energy to the stage that set the tone for the evening. Hair flips, guitar solos, and head bangs were not lacking in their performance. The chemistry between them on stage — three Irishmen, a Scot, and an Englishman — was electric. They didn’t just play songs; they made the crowd a part of their performance. By the end, the room was wanting more.
Emerging from the dark, came The Darkness. From the moment they stormed the stage, it was electric, theatrical, and very rock ’n’ roll. Justin Hawkins, dubbed “Daddy Darkness”, was in full command. Tossing guitar picks, doing headstands next to their drummer, Rufus Tiger Taylor, and even grabbing someone’s handheld fan mid-show like it was apart of their set. The banter between songs was sharp and funny, balancing ridiculousness with total showmanship.
The tour is called Dreams on Toast, but it might as well been called Dreams on Overdrive. The peak of the night came, unsurprisingly, with “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” Before launching in, Hawkins asked the crowd to put their phones away — just for that one song — so everyone could be fully present. And for those few minutes, the room was lit only by lights and pure joy. Voices echoing back every word. It was sweaty, loud, and perfect.
Photos by Jess Gruneisen