The Darkness Bring Their “Dreams on Toast” Tour to Detroit

show recap

Sep 25

Written By Melophile Media

By Adam Briggs

Prog giants Dream Theater made their highly anticipated stop at the Fox Theatre in Detroit on September 21 for a special evening marking several important milestones in the bands careerBritish hard rockers the Darkness made a tour stop in Detroit, Michigan at the historic Saint Andrew’s Hall as part of their “Dreams on Toast” tour. They were joined by special guests Mark Daly and the Ravens.

Mark Daley and the Ravens opened the evening with an eight-song set featuring a selection of songs from their most recent album Devli’s Arms. The band, which hails from Ireland and the UK consists of Mark Daly on vocals, James Brown and Cillian Plummer on guitars, Jack Ross on bass, and Kyle Hughs on drums. This band perfectly paired with the Darkness, bringing a unique energy and stage presence that made them extraordinarily fun to watch.

Next, the headliners the Darkness took to the stage. As the light came down, an exuberant instrumental piece began playing. As the band took the stage, the instrumental gave way to to the squeals of guitar as the opening riffs of “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy” launched the audience into a 20-song journey through their career. The opening of their set continued with a high-energy version of “Growing on Me” that saw singer/guitarist Justin Hawkins hold a 20-second hand-stand on the drum riser, and a high octane version of “Get Your Hands Off My Woman” that included some audience call and response.

The setlist featured a large number of songs from their most recent album Dreams on Toast, as well as selections from their 20+ year career. The band proved that even after so many years, they still know how to command an audience. The crowd was with the band all night singing and dancing through every piece of music the band through their way. There were a few surprises throughout the evening including a performance of “Every Inch of You” which by their own admission, they don’t know why it’s been so long since they’ve played it, and the tour debut of “Solid Gold.”

The main set ended with “I Believe in a Thing Called Love,” the song that launched the band into stardom. After playing the first portion of the song, the band stopped and asked the crowd to put their phones away and just dance to the song. Launching into the song from the beginning, the hall began to shake from the crowd dancing, jumping, and singing their way through this electrifying song.

The evening’s festivities concluded with the band performing “Black Shuck,” a cover of Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls,” and “I Hate Myself.”

You can find more about Mark Daly and the Ravens at markdalyofficial.com and on socials @markdalymusic. You can find the Darkness online at thedarknesslive.com and on socials @thedarkness.

The Dreams on Toast Tour continues in the U.S. and overseas throughout 2025 and into 2026.

The Darkness Setlist: