You can always find something to do on a Friday night in Toronto. However, last Friday night, The Phoenix Concert Theatre was the place to be. British glam rockers The Darkness brought their Dreams On Toast tour to Canada, returning to Toronto for the first time since 2022. The city’s rock fans sold out the show, giving the band a very warm welcome.
The Darkness – Dreams On Toast Tour
The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto – 12 September 2025
Words And Photography: Taylor Cameron
Irishman Mark Daly and his band opened the show, impressing everyone, including myself, with his straight-ahead hard rock sound and raspy vocals.
Although a new discovery for the majority of the crowd, it did not take Daly long to have everyone cheering loudly and holding their horns high in the air.
Toronto welcomed Mark Daly with open arms for his first show in Canada.
The Darkness
Now for the main event, The Darkness. The stage went dark and the crowd went wild as Rock And Roll Party Cowboy kicked off the set with a bang.
The energy of The Darkness is like no other band, taking the stage like they have been shot out of a cannon. Justin Hawkins’ flamboyant personality shone from the moment he put on his guitar and stepped up to the mic, his falsetto vocals soaring throughout the Phoenix Concert Hall.
Rufus Taylor’s electric drum style held the tempo with flair, while Dan Hawkins’ vibrant rhythm playing and Frankie Poullain’s melodic bass grooves helped the sound feel and sound large, their respective backing vocals adding a vintage feel. 
Growing On Me and Get Your Hands Off My Woman are not only setlist staples at a Darkness Show, they will never fail to have the crowd singing along. Both songs were released on their glam rock-inspired 2003 debut album, Permission To Land.
“I want to go in,” Justin Hawkins said before jumping into the photo pit during Get Your Hands Off My Woman. Climbing onto the barricade, he lets himself fall into the crowd, surfing across the sea of fans as the band finishes off the song.
Hawkins, known for his eccentric and unpredictable stage antics, diving into the crowd came as no surprise. He has always been one for connecting with the audience, literally. 
This is the Dreams On Toast Tour, so it was only right for the setlist also to include a few new tracks from the band’s latest album of the same name. The twangy southern feel of Mortal Dread brought a nice spark of variety to the night, while Walking Through Fire included some fun crowd participation that had everyone moving and grooving, while singing along to the ultra catchy tune.
The Toronto room was packed from wall to wall, but that did not stop any of the fun. 
Stepping away from the drum kit, Rufus Taylor took centre stage to handle lead vocals for the track My Only, featured on the members’ edition of the Dreams On Toast album. This ’50s/’60s style romance ballad fit his vocal style perfectly, this being a favourite moment of the night for me.
Taylor captured the attention of everyone in the crowd with not only his impressive vocal abilities but also his charisma and charm. Something he definitely inherited from his dad, Roger Taylor of Queen. 
Unpredictability is a common factor at a Darkness show, which adds to the fun. Messing around onstage, the band jammed to Secret Heart by Ron Sexsmith and Summer of ’69 by Bryan Adams, celebrating their being back in Canada with some classic Canadian artists.
“Now, for what I would say is the best Canadian song ever”, Hawkins stated before they kicked into The Power Of Love. “We’re doing the Celine Dion Version, obviously.” The track was originally performed by Jennifer Rush. The audience sang along loudly to every word.
“We have time for one more, and I have one request. Everybody put your phones away, let’s just enjoy this one together!”
The crowd went wild as the iconic opening riff of I Believe In A Thing Called Love echoed through the venue. Word for word was sung back to the band as everyone bounced around during the chorus on request from Hawkins. It being impossible not to join in, The Darkness always puts on one of the best live shows you can attend.
Closing out with an encore of I Hate Myself, it ended the night of Dreams On Toast perfectly.
The Darkness had the crowd dancing on a Friday night, while leaving them wanting more. It is impossible to leave a Darkness show without a smile on your face.
