The Sandspur

Issue date: 10/9/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Greg Golden SOMEBODY TOLD ME: Members Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer, and Ronnie Vannucci Jr took the stage at the UCF Arena, Oct. 1, to much delight, as they preformed songs off of their multi-million selling albums.

Media Credit: Greg Golden

Media Credit: Greg Golden

"You're about to be baptized by our rock and roll," said the Killers' Brandon Flowers, overlooking the thousands crowding the UCF Arena. Sure, this sounds a little zany, but The Killers were sure on to something when they took the stage for such a blessed performance last Thursday, Oct. 1. What followed were bits and pieces from their three major albums, as the guys kept the crowd rocking for hours. "Joyride," "Human," and "Reasons Unknown" were just a few of the openers from their latest album Day and Age, but quickly jumped into stuff from Hot Fuss and Sam's Town.

The opening band, Chairlift, raised eyebrows at the quality of the sound and lighting systems of the arena. Matching the band's melancholy mood, the light effects were subtle and uninspiring, something not normally seen at a Killers' concert. Equally poor was the band's sound quality; both echoing and garbled, many of Chairlift's songs were incredibly hard to hear. It was very difficult to even establish what the band was trying to achieve, let alone hear the lead vocals. However, all of these worries were extinguished as soon as the main show took the floor.

Like a true chairlift, the opening act was merely a boring trip to an exhilarating ride that followed. The Killers were nothing short of a musical powerhouse, pumping up the crowd and dominating the stage. As the act began, their presence immediately established a new energy the whole audience could feel. Everything in the arena seemed to be heightened, including more dynamic lighting and stage effects that grew increasingly pronounced as the show went on. Ever-changing and evolving, The Killers were constantly adding to the experience, activating video screens, confetti, and even explosions. Only once was there a lull in the performance as the band walked offstage for a brief break. However, the crowd went absolutely crazy during the band's absence, constantly cheering and demanding an encore. With an obvious return, the guys returned to the stage to another eruption of applause as the concert was fired up once again.

The crowd went absolutely wild as soon as the signature riffs of hits like "Somebody Told Me" and "Mr. Brightside" boomed throughout the arena. These classics went off without a hitch, sticking to the recorded tracks but also throwing in some improvisational flair. During "Smile like You Mean It," a violinist played a duet with the lead vocals, leading to an incredibly unique and interesting experience not heard on the album's rendition. This sort of fusion is not all that uncommon to The Killers though, seeing that anything from harpsichord to saxophone was used in Day and Age. Lead singer Brandon Flowers took the time to perform a solo of his own, singing the chorus of "Joyride" accompanied by his own piano. In similar fashion, Flowers accompanied with the lead guitarist, Dave Keuning, sang a few verses of "Can't Help Falling in Love," a song popularized by Elvis Presley. This brought the band back to their Las Vegas showmanship roots, a common theme throughout the evening.

The show began with and was punctuated by a motif of sunset and sunrise. Beginning with night falling over the Nevada desert in the opening lyrics of "Joyride," the concert ended with images of the sun rising over the same desert displayed during the final number, "When You Were Young." This brought a feeling of completion and closure to the evening, letting the audience leave feeling like they had undergone an experience far more intimate and expressive than a simple arena rock show. All in all, this was a truly incredibly show that even those unfamiliar with The Killers could really enjoy. Taking the time to see this band the next time they are in town would be a very wise decision, whether you are a fan or will be experiencing them for the first time.

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