The Darkness Bring High-Energy Dreams on Toast Tour to Allentown: A Night of Surprises at Archer Music Hall

The Darkness rolled into Archer Music Hall in Allentown on Tuesday night, and from the moment the lights went down it was clear that the British rockers came ready to turn the place upside down. Frontman Justin Hawkins wasted no time commanding the stage with his signature mix of glam swagger and humor, while his brother Dan, bassist Frankie Poullain, and drummer Rufus Tiger Taylor locked in behind him, bringing their own fire to every corner of the set.

The stop marked the band’s first time playing Allentown, and they seemed genuinely happy to be there. Justin paused midway through the show to thank the fans and even pointed out a few familiar faces in the crowd. Among them were local Philly hero Pat Finnerty, host of The Pat Finnerty Show, and longtime friend Brian Langan. The latter didn’t just sit back and watch—he jumped on stage for a playful, rowdy duet with Justin on Bryan Adams’ “It’s Only Love,” one of the night’s unexpected highlights.

That sense of surprise ran throughout the night. Rufus stepped out from behind the kit to take lead vocals on “My Only,” while Frankie delivered a heartfelt version of “Conquerors,” a song the band hadn’t played live since 2015. If that wasn’t enough, the crowd went wild when they tore into a cover of Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” proving that they could lean into a classic and make it their own.

The show came in the middle of their Dreams on Toast Tour, named after the band’s latest record, and the setlist reflected that balance between new material and fan favorites. There was no shortage of hits—“I Believe in a Thing Called Love” and “Friday Night” naturally brought the house down—but the deep cuts and unexpected covers gave the night its personality.

All of this came on the heels of some fresh headlines. Earlier in the week, Dan Hawkins made waves when he didn’t mince words about the Aerosmith and Yungblud performance at the VMAs, calling it “shit” in a blunt online post. (link here) There was nothing shitty about this show, though. If anything, Allentown got to see The Darkness at their best—fun, fiery, and clearly having as good a time on stage as the crowd was in the pit.

For fans in the Lehigh Valley, the night was more than just a stop on the tour—it felt like a proper introduction. And if the reaction from the crowd was any sign, The Darkness will be more than welcome back in Allentown the next time they roll through.

Remaining Tour Dates

September 2025

• Thu, Sept 11 – Irving Plaza, New York, NY

• Fri, Sept 12 – Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON

• Sat, Sept 13 – Elements Night Club, Kitchener, ON

• Sun, Sept 14 – Club Soda, Montréal, QC

• Tue, Sept 16 – Old National Centre (Egyptian Room), Indianapolis, IN

• Wed, Sept 17 – Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit, MI

• Fri, Sept 19 – Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, MN

• Sat, Sept 20 – The Rave/Eagles Club (Rave Hall), Milwaukee, WI

• Sun, Sept 21 – Agora Theatre & Ballroom, Cleveland, OH

  
  

November 2025 (second leg)

• Fri, Nov 7 – Warehouse Live Midtown, Houston, TX

• Sat, Nov 8 – Emo’s, Austin, TX

• Sun, Nov 9 – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall, Dallas, TX

• Wed, Nov 12 – The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA

• Thu, Nov 13 – The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA

• Sat, Nov 15 – Knitting Factory Concert House, Boise, ID

• Mon, Nov 17 – Revolution Hall, Portland, OR

• Tue, Nov 18 – Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC

• Wed, Nov 19 – The Showbox, Seattle, WA

• Fri, Nov 21 – The Depot, Salt Lake City, UT

• Sat, Nov 22 – Summit Music Hall, Denver, CO

  
  

Basically, if you're reading this today, you've you might have a few hours to catch their NYC show tonight, September 10, but if not, fans still have a solid lineup ahead—rolling through the U.S. and Canada in mid-September before picking back up in early November with a West Coast and Mountain States run that wraps in Denver on November 22, 2025.