Killers Flashback - Birmingham LG Arena 27th February 2009

I joined 'Victims' so that I could get presale tickets for the killers, but I was at work and they sold out before I could get any. I was upset, but not gutted, as there was still the general sale. Little did I know that this was to be a chaotic nightmare for my partner and dad, who were getting the tickets. They tried on the phones and online for 2 hours solid, and as tickets steadily sold out for Manchester and Sheffield, they tried Cardiff, then anywhere in the UK without luck. Now I was gutted.

Luckily a few days later, I managed to get 'Lounge Package' tickets for Birmingham Arena. They cost more, but had a few perks. I was so happy. I was going to see the killers. All I had to do was travel 100 miles...

Having done a dummy run, the journey was pretty smooth and the weather stayed fine (for Feb.)
Walking through the tunnel, the excitement was building. I hadn't watched any youtube footage of any gigs, but I just knew it was going to be spectacular. In the lounge bar upstairs they were playing the killers, which was a bit annoying as I wanted to hear the songs live, not tinnily playing from bad quality speakers.


The killers had some great merchandise, and I bought a bag, T shirt and poster.
Louis XIV were playing, but I can't really review them, as I was either in the bar, or too focused on the killers to notice. Really sorry guys.


We were in the seated area and the upper tier, but I was so lucky to get tickets I wouldn't have minded being right at the back just so long as I was there. We had a good view of the stage.

Right on time, at 9.00, everything went dark and a countdown from 10 - 1 started on the screens.The killers began to walk out, and everyone was shouting, cheering and clapping like mad things. Everyone was on their feet straight away.

We heard the opening chords to Spaceman and when the 'Oh oh oh-oh's started, people went crazy. I was pogoing with tears streaming down my cheeks. Even though I expected it to be great, they blew me away. I felt so emotional and by the end of the song I felt physically drained, but raring to go. (I always now have to listen to Spaceman with the volume right up to try and recreate that first moment of the killers live.)

The stage had 2 huge screens so we could see everything going on onstage and the backdrop was panels that looked like they had been taken straight from the Crystal video where the killers got there name. Palm trees were arranged, and the iconic killers 'k' keyboard was at the front of the stage. It looked fabulous.

The second song, This Is Your Life had the crowd doing the arm-waving which would become legendary amongst killers fans. Brandon said "It's our second night here. It seems to be going well. Let's not mess it up now."

For Reason's Unknown, which is not usually one of my favourites, was fantastic live. I really felt in awe of the spectacle, and couldn't believe how emotional I felt over a gig.

I am not sure of the exact order, but they played:
Spaceman, TIYL, FRU, Somebody Told Me, Smile Like You Mean It, Bling (Confession of a king), Sweet Talk, Neon Tiger, Human, A Dustland Fairytale, This River is Wild, Sam's Town (acoustic), Mr Brightside, All these things..., The World We Live In, Bones, Jenny... and When You Were Young.

Brandon said "Let's hear it for Louis XIV. They're great gentlemen...well a great bunch of guys."
The higher and higher part in Bling was brilliant. They said they enjoy playing Sweet Talk live and it was lovely to hear it. At the start of Neon Tiger, the tiger print curtain dropped. Human had the same graphics of beating hearts and ECG lines as they had at the EMAs. For Sam's Town, Brandon sat at his piano, and a sign with the same name lit up when he played the twinkly bit. Seeing Mr B live was something I had wanted to see for a long time. It more than lived up to expectations. I remember thinking that I didn't have to worry about anything, I could achieve anything I wanted to. It was an amazing feeling.
After Mr B was ATTTID and it was a song that I never felt that close to it before, but hearing it live was special and I felt part of something. Everyone was chanting in time. There was a confetti cannon and as the confetti drifted down and the guys walked offstage I stood there completely blown away.

When they came back on for the encore, it was to TWWLI, which is one of my favourites from Day and Age. It was beautiful live.
Next was Bones, and as it launched into the 'Come with me' intro, I was aware of just how many fantastic songs they have. "Jenny was a friend of mine." said Brandon before launching into a kick ass version.
"This is a song..." Brandon started, then fell over and lay on the floor, laughing. "This is a song to write home to your Mom about." The band then launched into WYWY which was absolutely mind blowing. After the middle part, Brandon screamed, "Birmingham, come on!!!" and sparks fell. We all went for it.


They left the stage much too soon, it seemed. The lights came up and I felt absolutely in shock. I made my way upstairs and outside. I can't really describe how I felt. It's not a way I ever expected to feel after a gig. I know that experiences like that are what is important in life. I felt so optimistic and so lucky to have experienced that. The killers are fantastic on CD, but you don't really find out what they are capable of until you see them live. They are such brilliant musicians, and Brandon is the most commanding and confident showman I have ever seen. If you get the chance, you need to see this band. It will be worth it.

Well, I woke up Christmas morning and what did I see?

Happy Birthday Guadalupe released today for World AIDS Day.
Listen below:

Happy Birthday, Guadalupe (killers xmas song)

Here is a short clip of the killers xmas song.

An extract of the new xmas single from The Killers.

You get these stencils, and it looks just like Elmo when you light the sucker up.

Interview from Entertainment Weekly:
by Simon Vozick-Levinson

The Killers are technically in between albums, but they’re tiding hungry fans over with a New Moon tune and a live CD/DVD that hits stores today. The Music Mix reached frontman Brandon Flowers at home in Las Vegas to chat about all this and more a few days before the band launched an overseas tour. Read on for our Q&A.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Live From the Royal Albert Hall is your first live album. What made you want to do it now?
BRANDON FLOWERS: It felt like a good time to do it, I guess. Sometimes I worry that we didn’t do it earlier. We’ll never capture what it was like when we first started playing. We might have been a little green, but we’ll never have that again. So I guess now is a better time than never.

Is there footage of those old shows off in a vault somewhere that you could try to release?
Over in the U.K., the BBC, they’re masters of filming live bands for festivals. So there’s quite a bit of that stuff from our early days, I think, but never a full show. Anyhow, we’re really happy with how this turned out. I think for our first live DVD, it’s pretty solid.

Was this a special show for you guys?
Yeah, London’s always been very good to us. They opened their arms to us before anybody else did. And Royal Albert Hall is a very iconic and special place. I grew up watching Morrissey videos that he had filmed there. So it was really exciting to be a part of it.

Why else should people check out your live album?
I think people will be quite surprised if they watch it. More and more people that I meet that come to their first Killers show have almost an overwhelming sense of ignorance, really. I don’t think they realize what’s happening with us and the impact that we’re having. There’s actually a great positive atmosphere. We’ve become a pretty good live band.

The DVD part of Live From the Royal Albert Hall is getting a theatrical release. What was the thinking behind that?
I don’t know, it was just an idea that we threw around. If a band that I liked was going to be at the movies, I think I would go see it. [Laughs]

Do you have any favorite live albums?
My favorite is called The Main Event. It’s Frank Sinatra at Madison Square Garden. That was something that I really wore out when I was about 16. It reminded me of Las Vegas. [Laughs] It was when I was still in Utah, so it was kind of wishful listening.… I only hear those songs in those arrangements. If I hear somebody covering [a Sinatra song], or I hear another version of Sinatra doing it, I’m always singing the wrong part because I’m so used to the way that he did it that night.

Is Sinatra a big influence on you?
Yeah, I mean, I would say I live with the ghosts of Frank Sinatra and Elvis here in Las Vegas. They were classy — at times. [Laughs] There was a lot more class, I think, in general, than there is today. So I romanticize that.

You have a song on the New Moon soundtrack. How did that come together?
They approached us. We had this song that didn’t end up making it onto the new album — the band’s a democracy, so it was a split decision. It’s called “A White Demon Love Song.” We thought [the soundtrack] was a good opportunity to get that song out there. It kind of fit perfectly with the movie.

Have you read any of the Twilight books, or seen the movies?
I saw the first movie. I thought it was all right. I love vampires.

Have you enjoyed any of the other vampire-related pop culture phenomena lately?
I saw The Vampire’s Assistant a couple days ago, with John C. Reilly. I’ve seen True Blood. I loved Interview with the Vampire. That came out when I was 13. I think I was a vampire for about four Halloweens in a row. I’ve always leaned toward the dark side, I guess.

Do you have Halloween plans this year?
It’s the first year that my son Ammon has a grasp on what’s going on — at least that he can go to a door and get candy. We’re excited. My wife carved an Elmo pumpkin, and that graces the front of our house. It’s pretty amazing. You get these stencils, and it looks just like Elmo when you light the sucker up.

Have you had any time to think about making a new Killers album?
We’re always trying to write songs. But right now we’ve got a month and a half of touring, South America and South Africa. That’s what’s on the brain.

Is there any music you’ve been listening to recently that’s really grabbed you?
Chairlift. They’ve been on the road with us. I love their music. The guitar player, Aaron, I’ve told him before, it reminds me of the desert, the way he plays. That’s something that I try to capture myself in Killers songs. I’m a little jealous that he does it so effortlessly.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/11/10/k...e-albert-hall/

If I could sum the DVD up in one word? Triumphant.

So. The DVD is out. After a mad day, I managed to watch it last night. It is fabulous to say the least.
The way it has been put together is great. On the menu screen, it has a shot of the RAH and the music sounds as if the gig is going on, and you are outside missing it. That said it all for me. I feel so lucky to have actually been there. It is such a special moment for the guys, and to have been part of that is something I will always treasure.

As the camera rolls into the building, down the corridors and into the hall itself, you can hear the strains of Enterlude, with a slightly apprehensive Brandon hoping we enjoy our stay. He needn't have worried (as usual). What comes across in this DVD is the raw energy and enthusiasm that Brandon Flowers has for the songs, the experience, his bandmates and the crowd. And this is mirrored (sometimes quite literally) by the fans. You can almost feel the happiness radiating from the crowd, especially when Brandon and Dave go into the audience during Bling and A Dustland Fairytale. (I missed the ADF foray into the audience on the night, as I took that moment to desperately grab some water from the bar. I had refused to move before, despite being close to fainting. A guy at the bar was worried I would hyperventilate. Did I care? Anyway...)


The completely synchronised arm-waving during This Is Your Life demonstrates the control that Flowers has over his willing audience and was a great moment on the night. The fantastic atmosphere is almost tangible and I think that comes across even to non- fans. Everyone I have ever spoken to at a Killers gig, who wasn't a huge fan beforehand have always been impressed and converted.

Brandon rarely stops smiling throughout, and has all the charisma that you would expect from a world class frontman. Mark remains cool throughout his masterful bass playing, despite his hair getting progressively frizzier as the gig goes on. Hell, I have no room to talk... Dave is the perfect counterpart to Brandon, owning that guitar and loving every minute, although in a slightly more restrained way. And Ronnie...well Ronnie is just an animal!

I won't go through the whole setlist, but each song was brilliant. They have proved that Day and Age stands up amongst the other albums and has given us a set of new Killers classics. The confetti during ATTTID and the sparks in WYWY marked the spectacle that this concert definitely was. The only thing that disappoints, for me, is that the DVD can't capture the feeling of what it is like to actually be at a gig. That's something you need to find out for yourself.

Sing me a lullaby, come on!!!

Footage from When You Were Young at the Royal Albert Hall is up on the NME site.
http://www.nme.com/video?bcpid=26429438001&bctid=46028267001
Haven't spotted myself yet, but there's always time...

Smile Like You Mean It

More news on the DVD from Island records:

THE KILLERS LIVE FROM THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL – THEIR FIRST OFFICIAL DVD+CD PACKAGE – ARRIVES NOV. 10th ON ISLAND

FULL-LENGTH LIVE DVD WITH 22 SONGS SPANNING ALL 4 KILLERS ALBUMS – PLUS 5 BONUS FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES – FILMED IN HD AND 5.1 SOUND

2nd disc – bonus CD –unavailable elsewhere – of live songs from The Royal Albert Hall

DVD bonus content also includes behind-the-scenes documentary feature

Now The Killers know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall. On July 5-6th, during their 8-country European festival tour, the multi-platinum VMA Award-winning, Grammy-nominated band performed two historic nights at the legendary Kensington venue. LIVE FROM THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL, The Killers’ first official DVD release, is a spectacular 22-song live concert experience – filmed in HD (with ‘Fan's Eye View’ alternative camera angle) and full 5.1 sound. The package, with live performances on the DVD plus a 17-song live CD from the shows (unavailable elsewhere), will be released November 10th in regular and Blu-Ray editions on Island Records.

Killers fans will appreciate how faithful LIVE FROM THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL is to the band’s sight and sound onstage. Moreover, the songs cut across all four of the Killers’ album releases, from their debut Hot Fuss (“Somebody Told Me,” “Smile Like You Mean It,” “Mr. Brightside,” “All These Things That I've Done,” “Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine”); to Sam’s Town (“For Reasons Unknown,” “Bling (Confessions Of A King),” “Sam’s Town (acoustic),” “Read My Mind,” “The River Is Wild,” “Bones,” “When You Were Young”); to Sawdust (“Shadowplay,” “Sweet Talk”); and Day & Age (“Human,” “This Is Your Life,” “The World We Live In,” “Joy Ride,” “I Can’t Stay,” “Losing Touch,” “Spaceman,” “A Dustland Fairytale”).

The DVD's running time is over 2 hours, and packed with bonus extras – starting with an additional five songs from the festival tour: “Tranquilize” (live at the Oxegen Festival in Ireland, July 12th); “Human” and “Mr. Brightside” (from Hyde Park in London on June 26th); and “Smile Like You Mean It” and “When We Were Young” (from the V Festival in August). A behind-the-scenes documentary, including interviews with crew and fans, rounds off the bonus content on the DVD.

The 78-minute live CD was mastered by British producer Stuart Price. Price’s work with the band began with his 12-inch remix (‘Jacques Lu Cont’s Thin White Duke Mix’) of “Mr. Brightside” in 2004. He later remixed (again as the Thin White Duke) “When You Were Young,” the first single from Sam’s Town. Price produced two tracks, “Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf” and “Sweet Talk,” re-recorded for the B-sides album, Sawdust, which also included the “Mr. Brightside” remix. He went on to produce The Killers’ third studio album, Day & Age, and created an extended remix (as the Thin White Duke) of its lead single “Human.” In addition to the Killers, Price has worked with Madonna, Missy Elliott, Gwen Stefani, Keane, and others.

LIVE FROM THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL was produced by Jim Parsons and directed by Dick Carruthers, whose credits include The Who Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2000), and long-form live performance DVDs with Oasis, Noel Gallagher, Keane, Van Morrison, Kaiser Chiefs, Bryan Adams, Aerosmith, White Stripes, and many others.