MUSIC: My first time with The Killers: A love story

(Credit: Nathan Fox)

I’m not usually one to brag but I’ve got some pretty amazing friends.  I was reminded of this last week when they managed to nab me a couple of sold-out floor tickets to the The Killers concert for my birthday.  

I flirted shamelessly with the band’s sound when they released their debut album Hot Fuss back in 2004. For months I sang along loudly (and off-key) to almost every song on the album. I dug the band's nod to Queen, especially with the vocal harmonies and instrumentations on tracks Iike "Somebody Told Me" and "Andy You're A Star." I didn't expect much more to come of it, though. I figured a band that came on that hot and heavy would soon fizzle out, as most flings do.  

But in 2006, I took a leap of faith after I heard "When You Were Young" on the radio and decided to pick up their sophomore album Sam's Town. I was skeptical, but when I put the disc in my car's CD player and heard the 50 seconds of awesome that is the Enterlude, I realized it was true, unadulterated love. Their resemblance to Queen was still evident, especially on the track "Why Do I Keep Counting?", but their sound had evolved into something all its own. It was less glam-rock and more epic, almost theatrical, rock and roll with songs like "My List" and "Bling (Confessions of a King)."

They caught a lot of flack from both critics and fans for the shift but I was deaf to it. The powerful, infectious guitar riff on "Uncle Jonny" coupled with the flawless Exitlude that brought the album full-circle, had me completely awe-struck. 

The release of 2008's Day and Age, although welcomed and enjoyed, marked the end of our honeymoon period. That's not to say the album was a disappointment, it's just lightening like Sam's Town rarely strikes twice in a row for most bands. The unbridled lust had dwindled for me but the unconditional love was still evoked with songs like "Neon Tiger" and "Losing Touch." And thanks to my amazing friends, that love was finally consummated last Thursday at the UCF Arena as I saw them and all the glory of their live performance for the very first time.

I had intended to get there early enough to secure a good spot in the crowd, but true to form, I was an hour late. I was a little disappointed to see I'd missed the opening act, Chairlift, but was immediately consoled as I realized I still had enough time to grab a beer before making my way to the floor. Not that there needs to be a reason for beer, but fighting through a suffocating crowd can be stressful and I needed to prepare myself accordingly. To my surprise though, the UCF Arena folks aren’t as greedy as those of other venues I’ve attended. The sold-out area was certainly packed, as it should be, but there was plenty of breathing room available should you need it. Either way, I went and grabbed another beer.

Just as I got back, the roadies finished up, the lights went down, and The Killers took the stage. The whole arena roared as the lights went back up revealing a stage decorated with awesomely-ridiculous props like an enormous urn filled with flowers and random palm trees in front of a series of vertical video screens. The rhythm-synced light show completed the package and confirmed that The Killer’s Vegas-style eccentricities were definitely in the house.  

The set opened strong with the energetic sounds of “Joy Ride” from Day and Age and kept its momentum going as the crowd chanted along to favorites like “Mr. Brightside” and “Bones.” Things mellowed out a bit as they covered a few verses from Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling In Love” before playing their whimsical hit “Read My Mind.” They ended with a charging confetti- finish with “All These Things That I’ve Done.” The song’s catchy refrain “I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier” was sung in unison by the crowd before Brandon Flowers, who sat back taking it all in, finally joined. As expected, the band came back on for an amazing encore that included “When You Were Young” and “Sam’s Town.” It was the perfect ending to an amazing show.

Honestly, I was relieved. Up until this point, my love affair with The Killers had been like one of those Internet “relationships”—I’d never actually seen them in person and was afraid that doing so would ruin my idea of them. But everything that I love about their albums translated to the stage. All of the songs that I had killed with months of replay were suddenly brought back to life as I listened to them live. I left with my love for them not only in tact, but completely revitalized. 

Unlike many love stories, nothing about my first time with The Killers was a disappointment. Instead, it will be an experience I look back on fondly for years to come.