There are concerts you go to, and then there are concerts you experience! The Darkness’ sold-out show at the Commodore Ballroom on November 18th was absolutely the latter for their Dreams on Toast tour. But before the rambunctiousness with Hawkins and co took over, the night opened with an unexpectedly powerful set from Irish rocker Mark Daly.

Coming all the way from Cork, Daly stepped out with the confidence of someone who knew he was about to win over a room full of strangers. His set was polished and unapologetically loud in the best possible way. The harmonies were tight, the melodies were bold, and the songs carried that nostalgic, Van Halen–esque shimmer that hits you right in the chest. One of the standout moments came during “Superhero,” which turned into a heavy, head-banging wave of energy. What made the night even cooler was that the entire sold-out crowd actually turned up for the opener, none of that fashionably-late stuff! The room was already shoulder-to-shoulder when Mark Daly hit the stage, and you could see the surprise ripple through people who had no idea who he was. It was that collective “Damn, this guy’s really good” moment that spread across the floor. By the end of his set, Daly left the Commodore fully charged for the chaos and joy that were about to follow.

And now, The Darkness.

If you’ve seen The Darkness before, you know the deal: it’s not just music, it’s theatre, comedy, spectacle, and pure rock bravado all blended together. But even longtime fans seemed caught off guard by just how electric the band felt that night. Maybe it was nostalgia, maybe it was how much fun they were having on stage! From the moment Justin Hawkins and the band appeared in near-total darkness, true to their name, the room crackled with anticipation. They eased the crowd in as the amps warmed up, Justin looking sharp as ever in a perfectly tailored plaid blazer and trouser combo.

The band didn’t waste any time pulling out signature moves either. Justin’s iconic handstand on the drum riser made its appearance early enough to let everyone know they were in for a night of peak Darkness energy. The light show was dialed in with ridiculous precision; every beat, every guitar squeal, every sudden burst of falsetto lined up with strobes and colour shifts bursting across the stage like a coordinated fireworks display. Everywhere you looked in the crowds, there were people dancing, jumping up and down.

One sweet moment came when Justin paused after the third song to thank the local photographers in the room. It was a small gesture, but it genuinely warmed the vibe, especially in a city where live music photographers are such a big part of documenting the scene. And speaking of crowd connection, Justin did not hold back. He made it clear from the start that he wanted the Commodore to be the best audience of the tour, and the crowd took that challenge personally. At one point, he even managed to get the entire room doing choreography to a song by pumping their hands up in the air like a marching movement, which was equal parts hilarious and impressive. Another standout moment came during “Barbarian,” when Justin ended up playing guitar on the ground like a man possessed while the crowd absolutely lost it.

The interactions didn’t stop there. When the band rolled into “Givin’ Up,” Justin stepped back and let the crowd sing the beginning, soaking in every moment before yelling, “I f**king love you guys!” It was just one of those moments that make the whole night worth it!

Throughout the night, the band sprinkled in a bunch of unexpected musical interludes, hopping playfully between snippets of “In the Air Tonight,” “Dead Flowers,” “The Power of Love,” (they absolutely nailed covering Celine Dion – collab anyone?), and even “Immigrant Song.” Each little detour added to this wonderfully chaotic, jam-session energy that made the set feel alive and the fans on their toes. They also made sure to toss in a nod to their Christmas song, because what’s a Darkness show without a little festive mischief?

As the night started edging toward its finale, Justin asked everyone to put their phones away and actually connect for a moment. And good thing he did, because the second that unmistakable opening riff hit, the whole crowd knew exactly what was coming. Everyone was ready to rage and sing their hearts out as they played their biggest hit, “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”.

For the encore, the band returned to an eruption of cheers and launched into “Summer of ’69,” a loving tribute to Bryan Adams, whom Justin described as one of his favourite Canadian songwriters. The energy in the room only kept climbing as they followed it with “One Way Ticket to Hell” and “Hate Myself,” before finally closing the night with the killer riff from Zeppelin’s “Heartbreaker.” As the stage lights kept flashing, the band tossed out their guitar picks, drumsticks, and setlists to the fans, a lovely cherry on top finish to a night that already felt impossibly intimate for such a high-energy show!

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

Upcoming Dreams On Toast Tour Dates:
11/21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
11/22 – Denver, CO @ Summit
More info on the band’s website.

THE DARKNESS

MARK DALY

All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle