2004-01-09 | 2:53 p.m.
in the eye of the storm, we keep each other warm

Oh. The Darkness.

Of course I went yesterday to the Virgin in-store and of course it was great. Sadly, they couldn't do the signing because they got booked on Letterman (airing tonight. Watch it!) and had to run out right after the performance to tape it (Letterman tapes Friday's show Thursday night) but they signed a billion booklets and everyone got one as they left the performance. Sweeties.

They soundchecked "Makin' Out" (A B-side and a big favorite -- well, with lyrics like "Making out, it's getting better and better/ Making out, the backseat's getting wetter" how could it be anything but?) and played four album tracks, including my current favorite "Love On the Rocks With No Ice" (filthy bass line/big scream ending the major selling points.)

Oh. Yes. And they were so great and it was so fun and I took some pictures (which you see here) and I got a pick. A Justin Hawkins guitar pick. Oh, it's too exciting.

Lovely Brooke sent me another lovely Darkness something I hadn't seen. They are in Page Six again (someone over there likes them, clearly) with this gem:

BUBBLE TROUBLE GLAM rockers the Darkness are renowned for their Spandex catsuits, operatic vocals and a bombastic live show reminiscent of vintage Queen. But there are certain rock clichés they shy away from. We reported last week that the British band refused to do a photo shoot for Q magazine because the photographer wanted them to pour champagne on the chests of 15 naked models. "They don't like to degrade women," says a source. But guitarist Daniel Hawkins, his tongue firmly in cheek, called us to offer a more rock 'n' roll reason for their refusal: "They were trying to give us that Moet & [bleeping] Chandon crap, but we don't pour anything less than Cristal."

I've seen these men interact with very flirty fangirls and I have to say they really are impressingly non-lecherous, probably the least lecherous rock stars I've ever met. What's not to love?

And on that note, I saw Dear Leader on Wednesday (it was a wonderful week for the rock), their first NYC show, and it was great. They are already working on a new album (reportedly more in the vein of The Sheila Divine masterpiece New Parade), which is very exciting. They also hope to play out in NY more. Good idea.

I had a nervous breakdown on Tuesday put into play by a urine-spraying visiting cat, truly horrifying hair that only a long-overdue good cut would fix, 3" of grown-in (and graying) roots, really raggedy nails and no paycheck for the next 10 days. My girl Dollo, she knew just what I needed and she generously lent me lots of money so I could dye my hair, have it cut by lovely Julie and get my nails done by the nice lady over on Noble St., all in time for the aborted Darkness re-meeting. And now I am so cute and I feel so much better. And the cat stopped peeing on everything. It's a good time.

And a good time to be home because it's ridiculously cold out. I think tomorrow I will go out to breakfast. The thought of sitting and getting nonstop coffee poured for me brings a tear of joy to my eye.

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