The Darkness Light Up Portsmouth with a Rock and Roll Party

Author Tobi Stidolph Published April 7, 2025

t had been six years since The Darkness expressed themselves musically in Portsmouth. This performance came just three days prior to their fresh-sounding eighth studio album release, Dreams on Toast. The singles that had since been released, including The Longest Kiss, Walking Through Fire, and I Hate Myself, were all highly anticipated to be set hits. To kick off the 16-song, star-studded setlist for the night was, in fact, the lead single from the new album that would encapsulate everyone in the crowd and get us ready for what was to come—a proper rock and roll party. The heavy-stepping drums and the repetitive riff of Rock and Roll Party Cowboy did just that.

As the evening grew, so did the band’s energy as they continued riffing through legendary songs from earlier albums. The bouncing start to the gig from their fresh sound was followed by their 2003 love song Growing on Me. The night continued with classic riffs and solos on top of standout drum beats. The crowd found its rhythm as the party continued. One member of the audience even grew the confidence to request to play guitar for the solo-heavy I Believe in a Thing Called Love—which would have been a sight to see and may even have had the potential to steal the show if Justin Hawkins had agreed to their proposition.

We continued with the band doing what they do best—having the crowd in the palm of their hand. Slowing things down a bit and giving us time to catch a breath, The Darkness powered through a newbie and an oldie: Walking Through Fire and Love is Only a Feeling, respectively. All before breaking into another new song, The Longest Kiss, which I would compare to someone turning up the rock and gospel factors of The Hoosiers’ debut record, The Trick to Life.

Although we had the pleasure of experiencing The Darkness on a Tuesday, we really did dance as if it were a Friday night. We took full advantage of the beautifully sung lyrics and infectious beat of Friday Night, singing it back to the stage.

But the time had come—the end of the night was around the corner. But not before getting each and every crowd member jumping and singing in falsetto to the long-awaited I Believe in a Thing Called Love. The guitar solo roared as heads banged and a sea of arms waved in unison. A predictable encore of the new fast-paced hit I Hate Myself made for a great end. The night ended with a bang, and there was nothing short of love throughout the room.