It had been some time, but Love and Rockets finally returned to Dallas. On Thursday night, the English band made their first Dallas appearance since 1999 at the Factory in Deep Ellum.
Love and Rockets is the group's second incarnation as a beloved band. Daniel Ash (vocals and guitar), David J (vocals and bass) and Kevin Haskins (drums) were all original members of Bauhaus, a highly influential band that helped birth the Goth genre. Ash and Haskins had a short-lived band called Tones on Tails, but added David J in 1985 to form Love and Rockets. Two of Bauhaus' Dallas shows were canceled — one due to Covid, and a show in August 2022 because Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy was unable to attend. Ash has said this will be the last tour with any of the Bauhaus/Rockets members, so the lucky fans in attendance saw the end of an era. Historically, Love and Rockets haven't toured much, and it's a shame because they put on a fantastic show. The group's live sound reflected the memories of Love and Rockets recordings with just as much life and energy. There were moody projections behind the band with holes in the screen for lights that blasted out all through the concert. Between the visuals, the epic guitar-scape and the haunting vocals, it almost felt like the audience was transported back to 1987. The band played an even mix of songs off their five albums, with highlights "No New Tale to Tell" and their hit "So Alive."
Dallas was truly lucky to see this underrated band come through Deep Ellum. One can only hope that Love and Rockets have a change of heart and continue to play live. Their concerts are nothing short of amazing.