Review by Tim Lordan
The Killers. Perth Arena, Monday May 1, 2018.
I must admit: As good as The Killers were at the AFL Grand Final last year, I had some nagging doubts about this gig.
I’d seen The Killers 3 times - including way back in 2004 on their very first Oz tour, just as the Hot Fuss album was making them international stars.
Would they be as good now - without their “original” line-up? (Guitarist Dave Keuning and bassist Mark Stoermer are still officially members, but have both decided not to tour anymore).
Any doubts I had were VERY quickly blown away!!
Firstly: new touring members Ted Sablay (guitar) and Jake Blanton (bass) are fantastic players who keep the “authentic” Killers sound kicking - driven by the backbone of the band, drummer Ronnie Vannucci.
And secondly, it’s always been The Brandon Flowers show to some extent anyway! He’s a masterful frontman, mixing powerful vocals with classic Elvis style and stage presence (thin, handsome Elvis!)
The set opened with two tracks from latest album Wonderful Wonderful: the title track, and the super-funky The Man. Brandon’s energy level was immediately set to “high” – matching the visual onslaught from the bands HUGE video screen set-up - including a quite impressive triangular roof screen above them.
By song #3, the stadium erupted in the first of many huge sing-alongs, as they ripped into breakthrough hit Somebody Told Me.
Then the hits kept coming – covering the spectrum of albums: Spaceman and Human from Day & Age, Run For Cover from the latest album; Runaways from 2012’s Battle Born.
Plus some deeper tracks for “the fans”…my personal fave: epic rock balled A Dustland Fairytale from 2008.