The Killers
20th April 2018
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Rob Loud.
Tonight, Las Vegas came to Auckland, New Zealand. It may have been a long wait, but The Killers – who last visited our shores in 2009 when they headlined this very same arena – were welcomed back with open arms by thousands of their adoring fans.
Maybe a little lost in translation on such a large stage, opening act Alex Cameron was still an inspired accompaniment to be charged with the task of warming up the crowd. After playing a sold out show at The Kings Arms in February this year, Cameron certainly had fans a plenty in the audience who made themselves heard as he and his four piece band arrived and moved straight into ‘Happy Ending’; Cameron in one of his faux leather suits immediately throwing the dramatically physical shapes that he has become known for. With songs that address everything from toxic masculinity to confused straight white males (‘Marlon Brando’ closing out the set), Cameron is a storyteller, weaving his tales like spider webs. By his side, his ever faithful bandmate and business partner Roy Molloy whose traditional assessment of the stool he was sitting on enthralled the fans and possibly completely confused those who were not familiar with Molloy’s unusual talent. Tonight’s stool – that had been borrowed from lighting staff member Phil Pott – receiving a solid four out of five thanks to its cushioned seat and ability to swivel.
Arriving on stage to much fanfare The Killers started out as they meant to continue, completely sideswiping the crowd by opening with their most iconic track ‘Mr Brightside’; throughout which the house lights remained on. Was this deliberate? While it made for fantastic viewing, every single detail being able to be picked out, it did feel a little odd. The question being answered a few moments later as The Killers moved into their second track ‘Spaceman’, Flowers exclaiming with an astonished laugh “Turn the lights off!”, the audience unleashing a communal roar of approval as the arena was finally plunged into darkness and the stunning light show took hold.
“We’re The Killers, and we’re brought to you by way of fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada”
It was a bold statement that truly said it all. Having formed in 2001 and with five studio albums to their name The Killers are a band who have grown to be the glitzy beast that we see before us, but without ever losing that rock vibe in their heart that their fans have come to know and love. With big screen visuals, a dazzling laser light show and a touring membership that has now grown to nine, The Killers certainly made their presence felt from the outset despite the fact that this current version only contains two original members – to be fair they are also the two most spirited members, drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. matching his frontman in sheer vivaciousness. Flowers himself is charming, impeccably coiffured and a vocal goliath despite his lissome build; jet lag making a nuisance of itself only momentarily.
Taking the fans through the big hitter of ‘Somebody Told Me’ the juxtaposition effect of having Flowers stationed behind a large illuminated Venus symbol while his very Vegas cocktail lounge style backup singers were each behind one of Mars spoke volumes; Flowers glittering rainbow coloured suit lapels embracing the union of the two in all their varied combinations. Seventeen years and five albums down the track it would be easy for most bands to brush past their debuts, The Killers especially having their most recent release Wonderful Wonderful to promote. But Flowers is an intuitive kingpin and numerous tracks from their first album Hot Fuss were sprinkled throughout the set, the fans exuberantly celebrating as the opening notes of ‘Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine’ rang out across the arena; Flowers smiling before declaring that they wouldn’t come all this way without playing it.
Monochrome images The Killers displayed across the three big screens added an understated charm to ‘Smile Like You Mean It’ from the same album before the raising of the stage lights ushered in the moment that their disciples stationed along the front barrier had been waiting for, some since six am. Across the tour, Flowers has been inviting fans to the stage to play with the band; tonight enquiring who could play drums and truly knew the song (‘For Reasons Unknown’), playfully teasing the desperate members in the front who pleaded with extended arms and wide eyes. Having selected a young woman from the barrier, Flowers joked as to whether they had a shot of whiskey back there for her as she climbed in behind the kit, Vannucci, guitar in hand joining the band down front. But no whiskey was needed as Amy; an Auckland native absolutely owned her moment in the spotlight, even providing Flowers with the 4/4 beat as requested.
Undulating under the masculine overtones of ‘The Man’, the neon visuals of Vegas Vic and Vickie paraded around on screen before the track was punctuated with a giant burst of pink confetti delighting the surprised audience as they danced under the showering paper rain. Visuals of Mike Tyson that accompanied the emotive ‘Tyson vs Douglas’ soon faded into scenes of the desert for ‘A Dustland Fairytale’, before touring lead guitarist Ted Sablay stepped into the spotlight and began to play the notes that make the heart of any New Zealander swell with pride; Flowers and Sablay’s faltering version of Crowded House’s ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ simultaneously forgiven and embraced by the Auckland crowd; the sentiment meaning far more than the calibre of the performance itself. Dramatically pausing, a single monotone synth note held the crowd in the moment as Flowers earnestly regarded them all before slowing removing his jacket and languidly rolling up his sleeves, the audience almost beside themselves as they waited. Their patience handsomely rewarded with the chart buster ‘All These Things That I Have Done’, the trio of backup singers (Canales, Withers and Brown) almost stealing the show, before the audience was showered in patriotic red, white and blue confetti and streamers.
As the band played out Flowers who left the stage full of smiles and waves, the obligatory chant for an encore was begun, The Killers soon returning under a thunderous sermon backing tape sans Flowers. As bassist Jake Blanton thrummed out the notes, Flowers swaggered across the stage with a throbbing and muscular demeanor; his presence so utterly dissimilar to what had just been previously witnessed that the audience almost took a step back. Looking like a modern day Elvis, Flowers glittered in a sequinned gold suit that soaked up and then reflected the gold tones of the lighting. Sunglasses framing his face he strutted across the stage as he performed ‘The Calling’ enthralling one and all before completing a metamorphous for ‘Just Another Girl’. “Thank you for all coming tonight, I promise it won’t take another nine years to come back”; Flowers told the audience before ripping into an extended and boisterous version of ‘When We Were Young’ to close the show.
One by one the band members exited the stage, leaving Vannucci on his own to generously throw out a number of drumsticks to the ravenous crowd, before unexpectedly stepping up to the microphone to rather quirkily declare his undying love for not only New Zealand, but our beaches, our sun and the “seeds that we grow”.
Yes tonight, Vegas came to Auckland, New Zealand, and it was blindingly beautiful.
Were you there at Spark Arena for this big fun rock show? Or have you seen The Killers perform live some other time? Tell us about it in the comments below!
The Killers Setlist:
- Mr Brightside
- Spaceman
- Somebody Told Me
- The Way It Was
- Shot At The Night
- Run For Cover
- Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
- Smile Like You Mean It
- For Reasons Unknown
- The Man
- Human
- Rut
- Tyson vs Douglas
- A Dustland Fairytale
- Don’t Dream It’s Over [Crowded House cover]
- Runaways
- Read My Mind
- All These Things That I have Done
- The Calling [encore]
- Just Another Girl [encore]
- When You Were Young [encore]
Alex Cameron Setlist:
- Happy Ending
- The Comeback
- Candy May
- Strangers Kiss
- Marlon Brando
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very cool