Photos & Review: The Darkness at Summit Music Hall (Denver, CO)

The Darkness ( Lowestoft, England)

Mark Daly (Cork, Ireland)

November 22^nd, 2025

Summit Music Hall in Denver, CO

Full Gallery: The Darkness at Summit Music Hall

When it comes to bands with top end debut albums, The Darkness and “Permission to Land” are not often brought up in the conversation and it’s a mystery why this is. Ten tracks of fun, powerful vocals, guitar riff laden Brit mastery that holds up 22 years later. Saturday night at Summit Music Hall, I discovered that The Darkness are better than ever and put on one of the best rock shows I been to in recent memory with the help of opening band Mark Daly.

The 27^th and final stop on their US tour, impulse control was thrown out the window and charismatic lead singer Justin Hawkins seemed to be having a blast, the feeling washed over the crowd. From singing Happy Birthday to a person to performing half of “Love on the Rocks” even though it was not on the set list because an audience member brought a sign asking for it (sign in gallery below), the show was full of surprises.

Mark Daly opened the show with his gritty brand of rock and roll straight out of Ireland. With a rasp to his voice, reminiscent of Three Days Grace when really getting after it, the songs have a great drive and were a great choice to open a show. I was not familiar with their work before the show but really dug their material and did a great job warming the stage up for The Darkness.

As per tradition, Abba ushered the four members of The Darkness to stage. After a minute or so of anticipation, the band launched into “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy”. It’s a solid starter for sure, but what did it for me was song number two “Growing on Me”. Not going to lie, I adore this song and was singing along while taking photos, just the beginning of what was one of my favorite rock shows in a long time. The guitars from Justin and brother Dan ripped with soaring solos and fist pumping riffs, Frankie Poullain thundering bass providing a foundation to the classics and Rufus Taylor (son of Queen drummer Roger Taylor) beating the ever-loving bejesus out of the drums, and even sung a song during the show! This band is extremely tight, talented and put on one hell of a show.

Set Lists:

Mark Daly:

1. This is Love
2. Devil’s Arms
3. Better off Alone
4. Brighter Days
5. Crazy
6. Don’t Look Back
7. Superhero
8. I Wanna Be Move

The Darkness:

1. Rock and Roll Party Cowboy
2. Growing On Me
3. Get Your Hands Off My Woman
4. Mortal Dread
5. Motorheart
6. Walking Through Fire
7. Barbarian
8. Love is Only a Feeling
9. Givin’ Up
10. My Only
11. Heart Explodes
12. I’m Your Lady (cover)
13. The Longest Kiss
14. Friday Night
15. Japanese Prisoner of Love
16. I Believe in a Thing Called Love
17. Christmas Time
18. Love on the Rocks
19. I Hate Myself