Danko Jones Bring Pure Rock & Roll Fire to a Packed London Music Hall

On a brutally cold January night in London, Ontario — with temperatures hovering around -15°C and feeling closer to -20 — Danko Jones proved once again that real rock and roll generates its own heat. Inside the London Music Hall, roughly 600 fans packed the floor, shoulder to shoulder, for a no-frills, high-voltage rock show that delivered exactly what the trio promises every night.

Opening the night was Avalon Stone, a Canadian alt‑rock artist from Kitchener, Ontario, appearing for the second time as direct support for Danko Jones, and clearly growing into the role.

Stone mixed established tracks with material from her upcoming EP Meant To Break (out Feb. 27, 2026), including the recently released “Into the Rain” and the unreleased songs “Nosebleed” and “Cleanse Me.” Songs like “Shaking,” “Cliffhanger,” and “Drag Me” landed hard, while “Forget You” closed her set on a defiant, crowd-engaging note

At 9:00 PM sharp, Danko Jones took the stage, touring in support of their latest album, Leo Rising, and got straight to work. The Toronto-based trio — Danko Jones (vocals/guitar), John “JC” Calabrese (bass), and Rich Knox (drums) — sounded massive from the first chord, reminding everyone why they’re one of Canada’s most reliable live rock bands.

Opening with “What You Need” and “Diamond in the Rough,” the band wasted no time turning the venue into a boiling, moving mass of fists and voices. The set leaned heavily on crowd favorites like “I’m in a Band,” “I Gotta Rock,” and “Everyday Is Saturday Night,” each one hitting with the kind of precision that only comes from years on the road.

One of the night’s standout moments came with Danko addressing the crowd between songs — something he did frequently, keeping the energy loose and interactive. He introduced “Good Time” with a story about its absence from Canadian radio due to a certain un-radio-friendly lyric, joking that most of the room had never heard it before.

His solution? “Fake it.”

When the chorus hit, the entire room shouted along anyway — proving Danko’s long-standing belief that rock and roll doesn’t need permission, polish, or radio approval. It was chaotic, loud, and exactly the point.

From “Code of the Road” to “Full of Regret” and “Had Enough,” the set never dipped. “I Love It Louder” lived up to its name, while “You Are My Woman” gave the crowd a brief melodic breather before the band pushed forward again.

The encore sealed the deal. “Guess Who’s Back,” “Lovercall,” and “My Little RnR” closed the night with the same intensity it started — sweaty, smiling, and loud enough to make everyone forget how cold it was outside.

Danko Jones are a great rock and roll band. They show up, plug in, and play rock the way it’s supposed to be played — loud and straight to the point. In a packed London Music Hall on a freezing winter night, they delivered a show that felt timeless and completely alive.

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Drew Osborne

I’m Drew, the founder and editor of Front of the Stage. I have a strong love for music and photography, which started at a very young age. There’s just something I love about experiencing live music and capturing memories that will last a lifetime, and that’s how Front of the Stage came to be.