The Killers live!
The Killers
UIC Pavilion, Chicago
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Is Brandon Flowers a fan of “Lost”? Judging by the set design at The Killers’ sold-out Tuesday night performance at UIC Pavilion, somebody in the Las Vegas-based band’s camp certainly harbors affection for John Locke. Flanked by plastic palm trees wrapped in white twinkle lights, Flowers and co. looked the like latest item improbably sprung from one of the island’s many hatches. That, or they got a great deal on Barry Manilow’s discarded set pieces for a never-before-seen “Copacabana” video.
The Killers have always toed a thin line between Bowie-esque camp and Springsteen-like bombast (without embracing the ribald showmanship of either act) since hitting it big with 2004’s Hot Fuss, but Flowers still looks ill-at-ease onstage. Sure, he conjures some of the prerequisite stances afforded all multi-platinum artists, but this is not a man who moves like he ever spent time in front of a mirror practicing rock star poses. Switching between his post at the synthesizer, physically manning the band’s calling-card sound, and wandering aimlessly with a mic in hand, Flowers makes up for his lack of graceful pizzazz with a voice that can reach the rafters.
Unfortunately, the sound mix muddled his soaring vocals – not that the crowd seemed to mind the dismal way Dave Keuning’s guitar usurped everything in its path. The goal on the floor consisted of effusively shouting back the lyrics to “Somebody Told Me” and “Mr. Brightside” – still the band’s most affecting tunes. A wave of calm descended upon the masses when the setlist highlighted material from last November’s release, Day & Age. Save for a blip of recognition for the lead single with the head-scratching chorus, “Human,” The Killers’ third studio album failed to ignite much enthusiasm.
When in doubt, go with the old standbys and the band indeed delved into Hot Fuss and returned with a fist-pumping “All These Things That I’ve Done,” and ’80s revival “Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine.” “When You Were Young,” from the band’s sophomore effort Sam’s Town, induced a wave of nostalgia from the heartland, while “For Reasons Unknown” bristled with combustible energy.
On the night of Barack Obama’s inauguration, mention of the newly elected 44th president of the United States was surprisingly absent, but The Killers have more pressing matters to attend to – like turning the humans before them into dancers.
— Janine Schaults
Category: Live Reviews, Weekly
