The Darkness Review – May 5 2017 at 170 Russel, Melbourne.
Kokomo Jones appreciates the finer things in life. Long hair, tight clothes, guitar solos and The Darkness do all this exceptionally. Kokomo has never said no to a big rock riff in glitter pants and he’s not about to start now. The older guys in the band have gotten a new coat of paint. All thanks to new recent addition Rufus Tiger Taylor on drums. He brings more than youth, credibility and Queen DNA. He brings the stool, the sticks and the silverware.
This tour the band are introducing four new songs. They go down smooth surrounded by nine of the ten stone cold classics from Permission To Land. The newies show a lot of potential for their titles alone: Japanese Prisoner of Love. And another whose chorus simply repeats the phrase “I’m shitting out Solid Gold.” Kokomo has a soft spot for the stacked harmonies of second album One Way Ticket… so was disappointed to hear just the title track. Consolation came with bassist Frankie Poullain rocking his afro/skivvied pimp combination in this song, winding up the pack with an extended cowbell intro.
Darkness chestnuts included the obligatory audience sing-along to Friday Night and of course, Hawkins rode through the crowd on a roadie’s shoulders wailing a solo during closer Love on the Rocks With No Ice.
Final Thoughts
At some point a tampon was thrown on stage with Justin popping it in his top pocket and inviting other ladies accessories to be offered up. Moments later a bra came flying through the air and ended up spending the rest of the show incorrectly worn on Justin’s back. He looked so fetching in it in fact that this started to give Kokomo ideas. He wrote reminder notes in his phone to “start making some changes” at home.
XoXo – Kokomo
