The Killers

The O2 Arena, London on Mon 23rd Feb 2009

The Killers are no strangers to the UK and have frequently played across music venues and festivals alike in the last few years. However, tonight they experienced a new high, as they played the 02 Arena in London for the first time. This music journalist has witnessed Brandon Flowers and the boys playing on four other separate occasions across four different venues but there is no doubt in my mind that this was definitely the ultimate in their British performances so far.

Hailing from Las Vegas, these guys have always been known for their larger than life circus-style performances, especially after the release of their second album, 'Sam's Town'. With their third studio album now under their belt, they have revamped their stage act and set list from their last festival appearances and tour, and have re-energised themselves too.

The show kicked off with their latest release, 'Spaceman' and a currently moustache – free Mr Flowers bounded across the stage with the air of a youngster performing at their break-through gig. He was clearly hyped up by the venue and the sheer force of the audience belting out the hits along with him and he was not alone, as the rest of the band performed like they had never performed before. Getting close-up revealed that they were having, what seemed like, the time of their lives; in turn the audience was in fact experiencing the same emotions too.

Flowers spoke in between songs only when needed so that they could make their way through a 20 song, strong set. At one point he passionately declared that, "Every time we come back there's just more and more of you; we're very thankful," as well as gearing up the crowd near the start of the gig, shouting, "Come on! You know you've got it in you – you've always got it in you!" The band's set list consisted of a compilation of all four albums to date, concentrating more on songs from their latest instalment 'Day and Age', and only playing 2 tracks from their B-sides album, 'Sawdust'. The feeling in the O2 was more of a huge party rather than a gig. It was sheer luck alone that nobody fell down from their seats at the higher levels while dancing and jumping about.

Flowers himself made use of the whole stage propelling himself from one side to the other with extreme zeal and energy in his vocals, as well as his movements. The band themselves played to the perfection that you hear on their recorded albums and had 'rocked up' some of their tunes, such as 'Jenny Was a Friend of Mine’', adding more bass and stronger drum beats.

It's rare to see a performance where there is little to no hullaballoo between songs but this was exactly that as the Las Vegas rockers sailed through track after track with no breaks. Their background set has to be commended as the screen projected various coloured backgrounds, videos, images and montages throughout the gig.

Some of the many highlights of their performance were: Flowers' 'Abbey Road', piano version of 'Sam's Town', which actually hushed the crowd into a transfixed admiration, as well as the many times Flowers encouraged the raucous audience to sing the chorus' alone in songs such as, 'Human', 'Mr Brightside', and 'All These Things That I've Done'.

After briefly leaving the stage after a powerful 17 songs, the boys returned for their encore, ending on 'When We Were Young', with Flowers modestly stating, "This is where it all started for us."

The night reached its exhilarating crescendo, as bubbles poured down on the standing crowd, the stage was alive with special effects lighting, and The Killers took their final, gracious bows. All that was left was the back screen on stage illuminated with a St George's flag and the word 'Killers' emblazoned across the red stripe, which spelt the end to an electrifying evening for all involved; and left the audience with a proud feeling that the boys had delivered a performance in the UK well worthy of the big stages of Vegas.

Spaceman
Losing Touch
Somebody Told Me
Smile Like You Mean It
This Is Your Life
Joyride
I Can't Stay
Bling (Confessions of a King)
Shadowplay
For Reasons Unknown
Neon Tiger
Human
Sam's Town (Abbey Road Version)
Read My Mind
Mr Brightside
All These Things That I've Done
Dustland Fairytale

Bones
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
When You Were Young

article by: Fiona Madden

published: 26/02/2009 08:56



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