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David Smyth's rating
, The Killers make us all dancers
By
David Smyth
4 Nov 2008
If the Albert Hall was an outfit, Brandon Flowers would wear it. A practising Mormon and family man at home, the Killers frontman is also a Las Vegas resident and thus knows a thing or two about spectacle.
In the past he has sported pink tuxedos, Colonel Sanders ties and a natty moustache. Here, at a comeback London show previewing this month’s new album, before a feverish crowd that included Sir Paul McCartney and David Cameron, his jacket boasted two hairy shoulders like bear’s paws. It was the least garish thing on a stage heaving with fairy lights, a giant urn, flowers and palm trees both real and plastic.
Just as the quartet are flighty with their image, so they are with their sound. Their debut album looked to the dark-hearted British indie of The Smiths and Echo And The Bunnymen. For the follow-up, Sam’s Town in 2006, this American band went all-American, dressing like Wyatt Earp and channelling Bruce Springsteen in thunderous lines about “burning down the highway skyline”.
But the American public didn’t like it much, rightly sensing something cynical about such an obvious attempt to curry favour in their homeland. Now it’s on to something new again. English producer Stuart Price, the man who lately persuaded Madonna to revisit the disco, has given third album Day & Age a new electronic spark. Tonight’s show opened with current single Human, a melancholy synth ballad with a touch of Pet Shop Boys about it.
The song also contained a fine example of another area in which Flowers consistently confuses. The man is a master of the baffling lyric. From the beginning Killers fans have brought concerts to a climax by bellowing, “I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier” as if it means something. Human’s chorus, “Are we human or are we dancer?” can only be poor grammar or a cryptic reference to one of Santa’s reindeer.
He gets away with it thanks to supreme self-confidence, bravado that was much in evidence as he stomped between two microphones, singing as though trying to be heard across London in Wembley Stadium — his eventual goal destination.
The band have made no secret of seeing U2 as rivals. Chest-beating, anthemic new songs such as Neon Tiger and Spaceman, with a chorus to rank among their catchiest, will help them on their way.
Joy Ride was less successful, a slice of white funk featuring bongos and a sax solo that already sounded dated. With all those palm trees about, it was dangerously close to resembling Wham!’s Club Tropicana.
It was a blip in a set of relentless energy. Albert Hall audiences can be restrained but here they were galvanised by the fire on stage. Chairs were only used for standing on and dancing. When the soul/soldier confusion of All These Things That I’ve Done arrived at the close, it was impossible not to be swept along by the euphoria that a great nonsensical chorus can bring.
23-24 February, O2 Arena (0871 984 0002). www.the02.co.uk.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (6)
What stupid comments from Paul from Hull. The Killers are an amazing band who never fail to excite the crowds, and as for not having made a classic song that will sound good 20 years from now perhaps he could try listening to the following songs without cotton wool in his ears - Mr. Brightside, All these things that I've done, Somebody told me, Read my mind, Human, Spaceman, When we were young, All the pretty faces, and this is just to name a few. Another thing, The Killers will still be around in 20 years time.
- Helena, Newport, South Wales, U.K., 06/11/2008 15:29
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I listened via radio 1 online, and I thought the show was amazing....is it wrong though that I actually like Club Tropicana by Wham!
- Gg, US, 04/11/2008 17:36
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A stunning tour-de-force concert that showcased the sheer power and scale of the Killers' music. I was sitting up in the gallery and even there I had a perfect view, with acoustics to match. Brandon Flowers is such an enigmatic front-man that he could even engage with the crowd that far back. Every song went down a storm, but the real force-10 moments were reserved for "Bones", "Mr Brightside and of course "When you were young". Of the new material Losing touch seemed to be the best received as it had a typical Killer anthemic chorus. The only issue with the gig was I wish they had played closer to 11pm, but then I would have still felt short-changed as The Killers really are such a morish band. I must agree about the stage props! They looked deeply camp and evoked memories of Timmy Mallet with his music video for "itsy bits yellow-polka dot bikini!" Still, part of their charm is that their music is so accessible and not as hard-edged or grim as many other "indie" style bands. Brandon really wants his audiences to have fun and everyone was very obliging.
- Thomas Hughes, Baldock, Hertfordshire, 04/11/2008 16:57
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Killers are awful and have yet to make a classic song that will still sound good 20 years from now. Guess it would be good to get a copy of concert so it will help people fall off to sleep.
- Paul From Hull, England, 04/11/2008 16:23
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This was a brilliant concert and is one that I will remember for a long time. The Killers never disappoint and just keep getting better and better.
- Ann, Newport, U.K., 04/11/2008 14:17
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I listened to thiis brilliant concert on Radio 1, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Killers are a fantastic band and they have just got better and better. I am eagerly awaiting the release of their new album 'Day and Age' and also think that their single 'Human' is a masterpiece.
- Ann, Newport, U.K., 04/11/2008 13:20
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