British rock band The Darkness stopped at Warehouse Live Midtown in Houston during their Dreams on Toast Tour along with special guest Mark Daly.
Formed in England in 2000, The Darkness is well known for their tongue-in-cheek style and catchy tunes, reminiscent of 1980’s hard rock. The band is composed of brothers Justin Hawkins (guitar, vocals) and Dan Hawkins (guitar), Frankie Poullain (bass), and Rufus Taylor (drums), who joined the group in 2015 and is notably the son of Roger Taylor of Queen.
The Darkness released their debut album Permission to Land in 2003. The record contains several of their biggest hits, including “Growing on Me” and “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”. They released their latest album Dreams on Toast in March 2025. The band has been touring across the globe for the majority of the year to promote their new record. The Darkness visited Warehouse Live Midtown on November 7 with support from Mark Daly.
Mark Daly kicked off the night with his incredible, high energy performance. The rock and roll powerhouse from Ireland and his equally talented band performed many catchy tunes and did a fantastic job getting the audience ready for the main event. The Darkness took the stage and were met with cheers and applause from hundreds of excited fans in the crowd.
They began their performance with the song “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy” from their new album. They then performed “Growing on Me”, one of their biggest hits. This was followed by fan-favorite “Get Your Hands Off My Woman”, where the band does an interactive sing along with the audience before they play the whole song. Frontman Justin Hawkins loves to interact with the crowd and always makes sure there is never a dull moment during his performances. Hawkins has been known to do acrobatic stunts such as headstands on the drum riser, and in some instances even fly above the audience while attached to a harness.
Needless to say, The Darkness’ concerts are always an entertaining treat. The night’s setlist was jam packed with timeless hits and new tracks from Dreams on Toast. The Darkness concluded their show with three of their biggest hits including “Friday Night”, “Japanese Prisoner of Love” and “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”. Overall, the night was a complete success and will make for unforgettable memories.
The Darkness’ Dreams on Toast Tour will continue until November 22, concluding in Denver, Colorado.
I’m a Houston based photographer who loves being around live music and all the creative people involved in the local music scene. I enjoy capturing performers and artists doing what they love and the essence of how live music makes people feel. When Im not behind the lens, I love trying new things and visiting new places.
