The Killers @ The O2 Arena

The Killers at Review

4/5
Bands: The Killers
Venue:
Gig: The Killers @ The O2 Arena, London
Gig date: 23rd February 2009
Posted on 13th March 2009 by bennyboy

It seemed perfectly natural for Brandon Flowers to be in the company of the brightest blooms of British pop (and Bono) during and after the Brit Awards last week. The singer and his group the Killers may come from Las Vegas, but their spiritual and musical roots are firmly located in this country, where they are surfing another wave of success with their third successive No 1 album, Day & Age. As if to underline the fact, one of the many high points on the opening night of their latest UK tour was their turbo-charged version of Joy Division's Shadowplay, a song steeped in northern English post-punk angst, which the Killers have turned into a modern, arena-rock anthem that is virtually one of their own. This was the first of two nights at the 20,000-capacity O2 arena, and the band has grown into these huge venues as if to the manner born. There were a few additional musicians here and there: a saxophone player joined them during Joy Ride and a violinist was added to a restructured version of Sam's Town, which began with a gently tinkling piano. But it was Flowers who most impressed in his multi-tasking role as singer, occasional keyboard-player and all-round frontman. Wearing a black jacket with feather epaulettes, he strutted the stage, reaching out to the audience with the megalomaniac air of a true rock star. He had the voice and the skinny legs; but most of all he had the necessary songs. Numbers from the new album, such as Spaceman and Human, more than held their own alongside tried-and-tested favourites including Smile Like You Mean It, Mr Brightside and All These Things That I've Done. In a stylish and thunderous display they reinforced their credentials as serious contenders in the heavyweight division. They are awarded an extra star for the original touch of being the first band at the O2 in recent memory not to play several songs from a second stage set somewhere at the back of the hall. They stayed put and simply got the job done. I like that in a group. David Sinclair

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