Just as The Darkness were about to undertake their latest tour, playing their monolithic debut, Permission to Land, in full, they announced their return to UK audiences in 2024 in… Warwick Castle? Now, given that I was preparing to witness the glory that was that tour, I knew by July I’d be wanting another dose of Darkness glory, especially on a warm Summer evening. As it was, a chest infection laid me out which meant I missed the tour and the evening at Warwick Castle wasn’t the warmest evening. But it was dry and I was in a t-shirt so I basically got half my wish.
As it would happen on the run-up to the show, my research showed The Darkness weren’t the only band set to appear at Warwick Castle. Instead, they were part of a series of shows, dubbed The Castle Sessions. With a vast array of acts across genres with something for everyone, The Darkness’ appearance on the inaugural initiative is for all us rockers. I’ve been to gigs in a lot of different venues but a castle is a new one, and on the basis of this one, I’d love to do more at Warwick Castle. Even though it’s a Thursday, it feels like a Friday, there’s the same sort of vibe you get at a stadium gig or a festival, everyone’s there for a good night and not worrying about work tomorrow. After the walk from the car park up to the castle (a slight incline but an easy fifteen-minute stroll), it’s into the grounds where there’s all manner of food – think burgers, pizza, ice cream, all the stuff you’d expect – and a bar along with a massive bit of green space to chill with your food and drinks on the ground or at a picnic bench. Then, once soundcheck is over (and a test of fireworks), it’s into the castle itself to catch the action. Well, the courtyard but you’re still within the castle walls.
There’s a big space for the shows with a stage to match and there’s a fair turnout, one which is likely only to grow over the course of the evening. It would seem that it’s bigger than the usual Academy-sized venues for these artists are used to playing. With a band like The Darkness, you need a raucous, no-nonsense rock and roll band to kick the evening off – enter The Southern River Band. Hailing from Australia, a country which is practically overflowing with straight up hard rock (and novelty act The Chats), it’s a perfect fit, especially when they arrive on stage wearing medieval fancy dress which look like they came from the gift shop.
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Taking a blend of 70s classic rock with 80s flair as well as some Southern tones and rootsy sounds, they’re your quintessential classic rock band. They know how to handle their instruments but not overly so. There’s a solid groove anchoring the dual guitars with vocals both rasping and honeyed, serving the song where it needs it. Between that and the good helping of banter between songs (including taking the piss out of Bristol – but I suppose you can’t always pick the low-hanging fruit that is Edinburgh), it ensures it’s not a set that’s po-faced. Instead, they know their audience and are intent to entertain and warm up the crowd which is exactly what they do. A couple of people next to me are quickly won over, asking me for the name of the band. One of the highlights comes in the epic “Chasing After Love (I’ll Burn a Hole in Your Shows)” where country and honky tonk sounds begin to seep into the music. But more than that, you can tell this one is their showstopper, the one that grabs anyone left on the fence and makes a convert out of them. By the time they take their leave, people aren’t about to forget The Southern River Band as they deliver a performance like it’s their own show.
As ABBA’s “Arrival” blares from the PA to signal their appearance, The Darkness launch straight into “Growing on Me”. It’s a strange one to start proceedings but as it kicks in with synchronised fireworks and Justin Hawkins’ iconic high-pitched screams, you don’t care. Because it’s The Darkness. You’re swept along for the ride and immediately reminded of how good they are with a smile plastered to your face for the next ninety minutes. Given their last album, Motorheart, is almost three years old now, we’re long past the promotional campaign for it. Which means that tonight, we get even more of Permission to Land than usual. Indeed, the only song they don’t play from their debut is “Holding My Own”, and frankly, why not? Every song on the album is utter fucking gold.
It does mean, however, that most of their other albums are represented by only one or two songs like “Barbarian” for Last of Our Kind and “Solid Gold” and “Japanese Prisoner of Love” for Pinewood Smile. However, whilst there’s nothing from Hot Cakes (not the comeback album we’d hoped it would be, to be far), the glaring omission for the night is “One Way Ticket” and subsequently nothing from the album of the same name. Which means we don’t get to see bassist Frankie Poullain poised and smashing the hell out of Christopher Walken’s favourite piece of percussion. Regardless, it’s still an incredible show from a band who don’t use any fancy gimmicks and have fully embraced their cult status.
There’s plenty of banter from Justin Hawkins, remarking early that the crowd have been exceptionally polite between songs. Indeed, it’s his dry humour which not only enhances the show but simply wouldn’t be a Darkness gig if it was missing, a bit like if Dan Hawkins wasn’t wearing his Thin Lizzy t-shirt. There’s plenty of moments tonight where the Hawkins brothers aren’t duelling their guitars and instead, we see the younger of the two (Dan), do all the heavy lifting whilst Justin prowls the stage in his vest or completely topless. Actually, that’s another omission – there’s no catsuit tonight. I’ve not seen The Darkness loads of times but this is certainly the only time he’s not worn his ubiquitous ensemble and I’m sure that goes for many of the other people who have seen the band on multiple occasions so that’s also something for the books.
While it’s all about making Thursday night feel like a Friday night (well, Friday is for dancing and archery is on Thursday which is rather apt being in a medieval castle), their tongue-in-cheek lyrics take a backseat on “Heart Explodes”. It doesn’t quite bring the mood down but it does allow for a bit of a breather as things get a bit mushy without being saccharine and indeed, there’s still a bit of humour for good measure. But it’s when the band are in full tilt that you realise just how excellent and vital they are as a live act. Between the dual guitars of the Hawkins brothers, the pair of them bouncing off each other, feeling the energy that comes not only as bandmates but as brothers. They might be the most energetic of the trio playing stringed instruments, but Frankie Poullain is every bit as charismatic as he coolly plays his bass with enough gusto to rattle your fillings and locks in perfectly with Rufus Tiger Taylor. Most of the material may not be his but he plays it like it is. Not getting over technical or fancy, he’s got the groove and finesse needed and you can see the influences of people like Taylor Hawkins and his rock royalty dad (some guy called Roger Taylor?). But it’s the four of them together, a line-up that is almost a decade old at this point, playing without anything to prove and up on that stage for the love of it.
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“Love is Only a Feeling” brings the main set to an abrupt end (something a few people commented on after the fact) but once they’re back out and teasing us with a lounge-style rendition of “Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)”, it’s immediately forgotten. Ironically, “Rock and Roll Deserves to Die” pops its head up at this moment even if they’ve just delivered a show which proves it very much deserves to live. And it wouldn’t be a Darkness gig without that song and “Love on the Rocks With No Ice”. Full of extended solos and drawn-out final chords in pantomime fashion but we’re all in on the joke; it’s a thrilling finale to another excellent show.
For its first year, I can’t find fault with The Castle Sessions. While some of the other days had another couple of acts on with their respective headliners, that’s perhaps the only addition I’d like to see if Warwick Castle plays host to this next year. There’s plenty of rock bands who would be the right size and fit to headline something like this, and two or three more bands on before them would definitely add to the festival feel. But if they want to book The Darkness every year, I wouldn’t grumble at that, either.
Header image by Simon Emmett
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