Gig Review: The Killers @ Wembley Arena 25.02.07
- Posted on February 27, 2007 5:14 PM
- 1 comment
By Danny Stockwell
In a very short space of time, The Killers have swiftly become one of the world's biggest Rock groups. Double Brit winners of 'Best International Group' and 'Best International Album', the 'Best British band to come out of America' have had a strong affinity with this country; ever since being first championed by the likes of NME and XFM. It is therefore little wonder that their current UK tour sold out in minutes. I was one of the lucky ones who made it to their recent Wembley Arena show.
Walking out of Wembley Park station to be greeted by the awe-inspiring new Wembley Stadium and multi-coloured lit Wembley Arena leaves me expecting something extra special to live up to these majestic surroundings. The Nevadan foursome of Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci has a lot to live up to.
Dressed all in black, fellow American rockers The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club warm things up nicely for a hugely expectant crowd with their trademark dirty Rock sounds. As the likes of 'Spread Your Love' and 'Ain't No Easy Way' make their sleazy presence felt on the formidable sound system, it is easy to see why these guys have such a strong cult following and they set the stage perfectly for the main event.
Hidden behind a screen and accompanied by a black and white film that takes you into 'Sam's Town', The Killers have (almost) arrived on stage to rapturous applause. Bathed in light, an explosion of ticker tape heralds their grand entrance and the crowd erupts into a crescendo of appreciation. This is going to be good!
With only two albums released, there are no prizes for guessing what these guys are going to play live. However, they posses more anthems in long players 'Hot Fuss' and 'Sam's Town' than many of their three album plus contemporaries put together. The title and lead track from the latter kicks things off to a rousing start, followed by most recent singles 'When You Were Young' and 'Bones'.
Not a group who waste time with unnecessary small talk with the crowd, they deliver a tightly packaged set that doesn't let up, executed with clinical precision. These guys are slicker than Flower's sharply tailored suits! Three of their most popular tracks to date 'Somebody Told Me,' 'Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine' and 'Smile Like You Mean It' follow, before they showcase more tracks from their award-winning second album.
Like all great performers, they leave the best until last and having got the sing-a-long faithful to full voice (which is most in here tonight!) with 'Glamorous Indie Rock N Roll', they deliver a show-stopping version of undoubtedly one of their most popular tracks 'Mr Brightside'. 'One of the best songs of the last five years' I am told and judging by the thousands of arm's raised aloft, few in attendance would disagree.
Having left the stage to a completely well deserved standing ovation, they return to the stage led by drummer Ronnie Vanucci. 'Thanks for Sticking around' Flower's says, before launching into a four-track encore that includes their cover of Joy Division's 'Shadow Play', taken from the forthcoming Ian Curtis film biopic 'Control'.
The obligatory 'All These Things That I've Done' brings an incredible show to an incredible finale - this is definitely one band who live up to the hype and then some! They have a massive summer ahead of them, already confirmed headliners for both Glastonbury and V Festival. Judging by this performance they look set to steal the show at both.
Full Set List:
1. Sam's Town
2. Enterlude/When You Were Young
3. Bones
4. Somebody Told Me
5. Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
6. Smile Like You Mean It
7. Uncle Jonny
8. Read My Mind
9. On Top
10. Read My Mind (Reprise)/Bling (Confessions Of A King)
11. Glamorous Indie Rock N Roll
12. Why Do I Keep Counting?
13. Mr Brightside
14. This River Is Wild
15. Shadow Play
16. For Reasons Unknown
17. All These Things That I've Done
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Comments (1)
me
They are as nice as pie aspecially at glasgow secc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted on March 20, 2007 4:25 PM
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