Review: 13/12/22 by Gary Hodges. Photos: Chris Phelps
As a first-time attendee at a Killers Concert, nothing could have prepared this reviewer for the absolute Tsunami of heightened excitement and frenzy that was about to follow, from beginning to absolute end.
The Killers were ably supported by Alex Cameron and band (Seekae) who were clearly under strict instructions from Killers main man Brandon Flowers to stir things up.
But how do you try and warm up a 15000 strong audience that is ready to go absolutely bonkers at the flick of a switch for one of the best stadium bands of all time!
The post pandemic ‘Imploding The Mirage Tour’ had arrived.
The Killers came on to the stage to a rapturous applause and immediately launched into ‘My Own Soul’s Warning’. As the first note sounded, cannons dispersed confetti into the audience. Laser lights and images on the Big Screen kicked in. What a start!
Brandon Flowers (one of the co-founders of the band in 2001) was everywhere. Imagine a young and extremely energetic Mick Jagger bouncing around and you might start to get the picture.
The audience reaction was instantaneous. Everyone knew the songs, and everyone was singing them. The hit songs kept coming. ‘Enterlude’. ‘When you were young’. ‘Jenny was a friend of mine’. The interaction between the audience and the 9-piece band (replete with 3 female singers) was staggering. And the band were so tight, so well-rehearsed, so in sync with Brandon and the audience, and the incredible array of visual and stage overlays.
From a visual perspective there were literally dozens of highlights. From a laser lightshow, to prepared short films and animations to the creative use of live filming. Live cameras were used for instance to flip the imagery on the big screen of the band playing to the audience singing and swaying with their hands in the air.
Other big screen highlights included the fragmentation of the big screen into dozens of smaller screens each with people dancing individually to the music. Mind blowing.
Coming to the end of this spectacular evening, Brandon Flowers bid farewell and the band left the stage. The audience chanted for more and Brandon reappeared with the band launching into 3 encores, starting with ‘The Man’. The imagery of the statue of David was a visual anchor for this piece. Stunning. Clear and high-resolution pictures. Next there was ‘Bling (Confession of a King)’ and finally the big song that everyone had been waiting for, ‘Mr Brightside’.
‘Mr Brightside’ literally brought the house down. Streamers, confetti, laser lights, brilliant musicianship. No one wanted the night to end. After a heartfelt thanks and acknowledgment to a great audience, Brandon left the stage. The band kept playing and vibing before stopping and then starting a short impromptu drum punctuation to the end of the Concert, led by Killers co-founder and drummer Ronnie Vannucci.
Finally, the stage was empty, and the lights came on, and the audience staggered out mesmerised.
The Killers fly out to NSW for shows in the Hunter Valley and Sydney before landing back in their home base of Las Vegas for a 2022 New Year’s Eve Show. 84 gigs so far this year according to Brandon, with a smaller intimate type of show scheduled for Sydney (at Liberty Hall, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park on Monday 19 December), possibly showcasing some material from their latest project ‘Pressure Machine’.
Don’t miss The Killers on their last shows of 2022. Tickets via: frontiertouring.com/thekillers
THE KILLERS
IMPLODING THE MIRAGE TOUR 2022
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
November/December 2022
Presented by Frontier Touring, Roundhouse Entertainment (Geelong and Barossa Valley), Triple M (AU), K Rock (Geelong) & Geelong Advertiser (Geelong)
FRONTIER MEMBERS PRE-SALE
NEW SYDNEY SHOW
via frontiertouring.com/thekillers
Runs 24 hours from: Thursday 15 December (10am AEDT)
GENERAL PUBLIC ON SALE
NEW SYDNEY SHOW
Begins: Friday 16 December (12noon AEDT)
Monday 19 December 2022
Liberty Hall | Entertainment Quarter, Sydney, NSW
NEW MIDNIGHT SHOW – DIRECTLY AFTER QUDOS BANK ARENA SHOW
18+
General public tickets on sale Friday 16 December (12noon AEDT) moshtix.com.au
REMAINING TOUR DATES
Wednesday 14 December 2022
Rod Laver Arena | Melbourne, VIC
Lic. All Ages
Saturday 17 December 2022
Hope Estate | Hunter Valley, NSW
Lic. All Ages
Monday 19 December 2022
Qudos Bank Arena | Sydney, NSW
Lic. All Ages