The Darkness: The Astoria, London

I HAD WATCHED THE DARKNESS phenomenon from a distance, in dismay. Despite the sheer unexpectedness of their vault from clubs to stadiums, every glance at their ridiculous, sub-Queen videos and apparently unexceptional songs made them seem like some kind of prank – a substanceless hype perpetrated by snottily amused music journalists, lowering themselves to like a ropy Metal band, in the spirit of Spinal Tap.