Live report DANKO JONES & TUK SMITH & THE RESTLESS HEARTS, Docks, Hamburg – December 13th, 2025

On November 25th of this year, not only was Rod Stewart in town, but a show in Hamburg was also played by Canadian rocker Danko Jones. He added an extra show at Markthalle to the tour because the originally scheduled December 13th show sold out quickly. Tonight, Danko Jones is visiting Hamburg again and plays at Docks in front of a large audience.

As in November, Tuk Smith and the Restless Hearts open for the Canadian rock band. The band hails from Nashville, and I haven’t heard of them yet. Founded in 2020, the four-piece band is rooted in classic rock, blues and traditional heavy metal. Listening to them feels like enjoying a blend of The Quireboys, Thin Lizzy, and Aerosmith. This gives you a certain musical direction, and we start with “Ballad of a Misspend Youth”. Tuk Smith and the Restless Hearts have released two albums, and the vibrant opener is from their 2022 release.

Tuk Smith and his bandmates have 40 minutes to energize the crowd, and they don’t need much more than that because their music speaks for itself. Since the show starts early, the venue is half-filled when the band takes the stage, but more and more fans gather in front as the band’s powerful performance unfolds. The Thin Lizzy-inspired “Girls on the East Side of Town” and the pulsating “Ain’t For the Faith” are highly appreciated by the fans present tonight.

In addition to the music, Smith finds a great way to balance musical performance with talking to the crowd. There’s an amusing story about whether or not the band wears wigs, and there’s an almost touching moment when a 13-year-old kid in the front row receives a plectrum from the singer/guitarist.
All in all, we can conclude that Tuk Smith and the Restless Hearts delivered an electrifying rock show, accomplishing the task of getting everyone ready for Danko Jones.

(click on pics to enlarge)

The Canadian rocker and his two bandmates enter the stage and kick things off with “Guess Who’s Back.” There isn’t much guessing in the hall, though, since everyone knows who’s back, and the huge applause at the beginning is a warm welcome. The setlist focuses heavily on the 11th and 12th albums, and as Danko Jones states, it isn’t guaranteed that a band will have the opportunity to release twelve albums. It’s the fans who make something like this possible, so it’s time for the crowd to give themselves a huge round of applause.

This also shows the party vibe at Docks tonight. Since some people might have seen the show at Markthalle, the setlist is slightly adjusted tonight. The opening songs have changed to “Guess Who’s Back.” “Invisible” and “Diamond in the Rough” are added to the setlist, and “Shake Your City” is an extra song played this evening.

Everyone expects a high-octane rock show from the Canadians, and Danko Jones delivers. It’s obvious that everyone present tonight is enjoying the moment, especially during the sing-along to “First Date” and “Good Time.” Everyone is having a good time tonight, including the band.

After being on tour for four weeks, tonight’s show is the grand finale. Before heading back tomorrow, the three-piece gives everything they’ve left in the tank, showing no signs of tiredness. As Jones said, it should be considered THE Christmas party this year, and everyone in the room immediately agrees.

When “Had Enough” starts, Docks turns into a madhouse, with everyone going wild before the bandleader sends a short live video to his mom. The throbbing “Lovercall” and the untamed “My Little RnR” are a great way to end a show that fully delivered on expectations.

Almost ten years ago to the day, I saw Danko Jones live for the first time in Den Haag, the Netherlands. It was an thrilling performance back then, and tonight’s show was just as impressive. Bursting with energy and the pure power of rock music, the show was a welcome distraction from all the Christmas carols these days. Everyone could enjoy a furious rock spectacle tonight, which led to sweat-soaked shirts and big smiles.

And for everybody who might have missed tonight’s show, Danko Jones will return to Hamburg, playing at Elbriot 2026.