Their latest album, Battle Born, may not have made much of a dent on us, but in terms of a live performance, it’s hard to fault The Killers. Playing the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, they lit the stage up with a video and lights show of Rolling Stones proportions, capping it all off with a crazy fireworks display that doubled the 5th November show as a class Bonfire Night too.
However, the most impressive thing about the gig was the fact that their back catalogue contains a lot more hits than you might remember, and there was still room for a couple of notable omissions like Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll. Most of Hot Fuss got a place on the mammoth set though, with every face in the crowd singing like they were their own songs.
Sam’s Town got a good look in too, with all the singles from the underrated album being played. When You Were Young, Bones, Read My Mind and For Reasons Unknown are often forgotten greats from The Killers, but they sound just as cool as they’ve always been played live.
Human from Day and Age was a massive fan favourite, with thousands shouting along, and Dustland Fairytale makes a great slower addition to the set list.
The best tracks from their latest album were also a big part of what made the night so good. Luckily, the preacher elements of Brandon Flowers’ recent music wasn’t a big feature of the night.
Dave Keunig’s guitar was raw throughout the gig ripping through every track with the sounds that make The Killers so distinct. It’s all underpinned by Ronnie Vannucci’s amazing drum claps and a deep stream of bass from Mark Stoermer.
Brandon Flowers’ vocals were faultless and occasionally flawed, making the set feel like a real gig. When he hits the notes though, it’s a massive sound and coupled with his cool connection with the crowd and great presence, he’s a big part of what was an ace night. The only negative was the number of OAPs in the crowd, but you can’t blame The Killers if they’re loved by fellers that look like elderly meerkats on E.
The Killers live review: 5/5
