Music
09 Oct 03

Lycra Bat Out Of Hell

Lowestoft’s finest have come up with a lorry-load of impossibly joyous pop-metal anthems, the likes of which haven’t been heard since David Lee Roth and Van Halen were spandexing their way round the ginormodome circuit.

As we speak, there are students writing theses on why The Darkness have captured the heads, hearts and devil-horn finger salutes of our nation’s youth.
It’s really quite simple. While the Coldsailors of this world contemplate their navels, Lowestoft’s finest have come up with a lorry-load of impossibly joyous pop-metal anthems, the likes of which haven’t been heard since David Lee Roth and Van Halen were spandexing their way round the ginormodome circuit.
Before we get down to the meat and two veg of the matter – no, we’re not talking about the contents of Justin Hawkins’ trousers – a doff of the Live cap to Subtonics who work their proverbials off to win over an initially disinterested crowd. They’re not going to win any prizes for originality, but by robbing all the right ska, punk and garage outfits, the Dubliners are a guaranteed good night out.
The same is true of The Darkness who tonight wear their influences on their lip (Frank must have been willed that moustache by Freddie Mercury) and chest (Dan, as ever, is decked out in a Thin Lizzy t-shirt).
You can argue that the world needs a cock rock revival like Jordan needs another boob job, but I can’t remember the last time a band was this ecstatically received by a room-full of people. Who know every word of every song and let Justin off with a playful boo when he says, “This is the first date of our UK tour.” Doh! Decked out in a fetching cutaway white number, Hawkins Sr. is every bit as charismatic as the rock legends he so lovingly apes and able to scare cats at 100 yards with that remarkable falsetto of his.
Along with regular bunny hops, scissor-kicks and arse wiggles, we’re also treated to him being carried round the venue on a bouncer’s shoulders during ‘Love On The Rocks With No Ice’. What’s more, he doesn’t miss a note.
Other highlights include ‘Growing On Me’, an “improved” cover of Radiohead’s ‘Street Spirit (Fade Away)’ and a communal rendition of ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ which is the Clarkian Moment Of The Year, no contest.