The Darkness Celebrates 20 Years of Permission to Land

As I drove from Asbury Park to Sayreville on a beautiful October night, it was hard not to be excited for my first show at the Starland Ballroom. And once I stepped into the photo pit, I realized this was the perfect venue to once again experience The Darkness.

The British rockers were set to perform the penultimate show in the U.S. for their Permission to Land 20th Anniversary Global Tour. The band took the stage and launched straight into the first track of their debut album, “Black Shuck”. They would proceed to play Permission to Land in its entirety over the course of an amazing set that had the packed crowd singing and jumping all night long.

Lead Singer Justin Hawkins is an amazing frontman who captivates the audience with his infectious energy. He was backed by the incendiary guitar playing of his brother Dan Hawkins, the cool bass sounds of Frankie Poullain, and the incredible Rufus Taylor who was literally born to play the drums. We were even treated to a (literally) dressed-down version of "I Love You 5 Times" as an encore where the band switched things up with Frankie on the acoustic guitar, Dan behind the kit, and Rufus on bass. 

If you haven't seen The Darkness before or have been a fan since the beginning, you do not want to miss them on this current run of shows. The next leg of the world tour kicks off in Berlin on November 7th. The 20th anniversary reissue of Permission to Land…Again is now available to purchase and stream.

Coverage provided for Asbury Park Vibes.
Show date: 10/21/23