Review: The Killers

 

Above: Brandon Flowers stirs an overflowing pot at Sandstone on Saturday. Photos by Mike Ransdell/The Star

Sandstone christened its 2009 season with a bright, seismic blast. The Killers are a band lots of hipsters like to hate, but they put on one of the liveliest and most dynamic live shows in the world of pop music, which is why they are loved by music fans who appreciate good rock anthems and who like to have a great time hearing them live.

Saturday night's was their fourth show in the Kansas City area in five years or so. Each time they have played at a bigger venue (starting with the Hurricane); and each time they have drawn a bigger crowd and put on a great show. Saturday's was no different.

They opened with a bomb --  "Human," the first single from their latest album, "Day & Age," and the crowd responded as if it were the finale to a wild evening. Almost right away, the band came back with another haymaker, one of their first big hits, "Somebody Told Me." By then, the nearly 9,000 fans in the place were feeling mighty happy and ready for plenty of dancing and singing-along; and Brandon Flowers and his boys managed to sustain that mood for most of a set that exceeded 90 minutes.

Flowers is a showman and a showboat, perfect traits for the frontman of a band that accents its anthem rock with some disco-funk, glitter and glam. It's also what you'd expect from a band born n Las Vegas.

The mood in the outdoor venue never sagged, but anytime it waned a little, like during the Joy Division cover ("Shadowplay"), they unleashed another killer tune, usually one off their impeccable debut, "Hot Fuss." All of those tunes got huge responses, starting with "Somebody Told Me" through the one-two punch that ended the formal set," Mr. Brightside" and "All These Things That I've Done." During those songs, the vibe hit a manic-mob pitch you feel at the peak of a Bon Jovi or Springsteen show. The balloons and confetti only enflamed the mood, which felt like midnight on New Year's Eve more than once.

The night wasn't without its problems, however. First, the sound was off -- too tinny and trebly. That's not the venue's fault; it's the sound man's. Outdoors, sound engineers say, is the easiest place to mix: No ceilings or walls or fixtures. The problem this evening was not enough low end.

The other problem: Too many people in the GA section. It was overpacked. The lawn was closed to contain everyone up front. Understandable: Security doesn't need to be keeping track of fans all the way up the hill. But it made for some chaos and discomfort in the GA area. I ended up retreating to the barricades at the foot of the lawn so I'd have some elbow room to take notes.

Otherwise it was a highly entertaining show. They pulled songs from all three albums, including several from the new one. Most of the fans in the place were familiar with every one, right down to "Bones" from "Sam's Town." They ended with another "Sam's" tune, "When You Were Young.'"  You could read deeper things into those lyrics, applying them to the world today: "Can we climb this mountain? I don't know / We can make it if we take it slow." But this wasn't a night for deep meanings and messages. Mostly it was all about forgetting your problems and indulging in some unbridled escape and release.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Setlist: Human; This Is Your Life; Somebody Told Me; For Reasons Unknown; I Can't Stay; Joy Ride; Bling (Confessions of a King); Shadowplay; Smile Like You Mean It; Spaceman; Change Your Mind; A Dustland Fairytale; Sam's Town; Read My Mind; Mr. Brightside; All These Things That I've Done. Encore: Bones; Jenny Was A Friend of Mine; When You Were Young.

Comments

[alienv39]

"Each time they have played at a bigger venue (starting with the Hurricane); and each time they have drawn a bigger crowd and put on a great show."

Hate to nitpick, but in '07 we had them headline a Buzz Under the Stars Show which drew 10,000.

[fan]

I thought about going but my 17 year old daughter talked about all the KIDS that were going. Okay but then my friend's 14 year old went on and on about how excited he was about going with his friends. Decided not to go. Wondered how many other adults felt the same way?

[Thomas]

If you want to nitpick, they played Replay to 60 people in Lawrence in 2003. Last nights show was amazing, what a great time! These guys get better every time I see them. The City Market show was good too but it was hard to see and impossible to park. Last night was insane and I parked for free. The Sandstone G.A. section was crowded but it was a party!

[Tim Finn]

I get varying reports on the capacity of City Market. The attendence figures get padded. I've been told it taps out around 8,500, which is a whole lot of people down there.

[MichaelKC]

I was in the very back row, just in front of the barricades Tim mentioned. Agree that the sound was too trebly, which was dissapointing given that, as Tim mentions, outdoor venues are easier to engineer for.

Anyway, pretty fun night, especially for the cost (about $40/ticket with all the fees.) And the hybrid got me free parking, which was nice.

Only bad part was I made the mistake of coming from I-70/Bonner exit, rather than taking 24/40. What a mess getting off the highway.

(And there's no way 10,000 people were there at the '07 show. 8000 is a generous, but more realistic estimate.)

[Bubba]

My first time I've seen the KILLERS. Got the impression the crowd at Sandstone were die-hard KILLER fans. Don't mind the new set-up for Sandstone. Sort of it's like the 'new' City Market. I agree that the $32 ticket price {by today's standards} were pretty reasonable. Thought the KILLER'S gig really got good the last thirty minutes. Entire show was fun to catch, though. Bubba said it.

[Shy]

Timothy Finn RULZ!!!! YeeeEEEEAAAAA!!!

RnR mthrfkrs!!!
KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!!!

[Dang]

Bubba,
You made a mistake skipping Neil Young,
where were you dude?

[Bubba]

Dang - I chose to pass on NEIL YOUNG simply because I didn't feel like shelling out $100 for a ticket. I'll maybe do that for NIN / JANE'S or AEROSMITH / ZZ TOP. I like older NEIL YOUNG, but I heard he played too much new material, like RUSH has been doing on their last two tours. I'll survive.

[dude]

I begrudging went to the show. I didn't think much of the Killers before hand, but figured music is music.

I'm glad I went. It was easily one of the most entertaining shows I've been to. I think it has a case for show of the year. I never thought I would say that, but I left sandstone thoroughly entertained.

I will disagree because I didn't think the sound was bad, or that the venue was too crowded. I was in the first row of seats, and there were a lot of empty seats all night.

[B]

You might want to change your set list so it says "Human" instead of "Dancer."

[Holland-Dozier-Holland]

"Are we human, or are we dancer?"

.................worst lyrics ever.

[Kevrocket]

Great show, very entertaining and affordable! My wife and I took our 3 boys (10, 12 and 16) and everyone had a good time. Word to the wise, not only hybrids can park for free. Any vehicle with 4 or more people can also park for free. Unfortunately they only had one lane into the parking lot for hybrids/carpoolers out of six or so. They probably should have at least two lanes. However, I just pulled up the Sandstone website and it states free parking for hybrids/carpoolers is only available at certain shows.
We sat right behind the box seating area which was about half way up near the soundboard. The sound was pretty good from our vantage point. Plus the seating area appeared to be filled to capacity. I saw very few open seats by the time The Killers took the stage.

[bob]

"Hate to nitpick, but in '07 we had them headline a Buzz Under the Stars Show which drew 10,000."

At the City Market? False.

[CMM]

There is cultural relevance to the Human lyrics. The lyrics were inspired by a comment made by Hunter Thompson, who claimed that America was raising a generation of dancers

[poet]

Show was awesome - Killers aren't really my thing but I took the kiddos and they had a great time. I'm with Tim on the sound, pretty tinny. Other than that it was an great show. I'm not sure what "fan"'s problem was about "kids" being there - as a parent of two teenagers I can tell you that you look for anyway you can to connect with and share experiences with them that you can. I have no idea how the age of the audience at a ROCK SHOW would effect someone's enjoyment - unless, of course, the entire audience was old and didn't get into it....

The crowd was a tight fit but I really like the new set up - although I think they need to get rid of the VIP section in the middle - crap, does everything have to be about showing others how important you are?

[Zod]

Nah, it's about showing others how much you can spend.

[alienv39]

"At the City Market? False."

Check your facts.

Capacity is 10,000. Show sold out.

[graces]

Hey Kevrocket, were you the one sitting in the middle of the first row of seats taking tons of photos and your wife on the other end of the curly-headed boys? We sat right behind you and thought your kids were awesome. Totally inspired us to take the whole family when our tots are older.

[Kevrocket]

"Hey Kevrocket, were you the one sitting in the middle of the first row of seats taking tons of photos and your wife on the other end of the curly-headed boys?"
Yep, that was us!
Thanks Graces for the compliment -that means a lot! Sorry for all the pic's, video etc. I love to try to capture the vibe at any given show, especially so our boys can remember an event way on down the road.
Our 12 year old loves The Killers so it was a special night for him. We knew The Killers would put on a PG show (turns out it was G rated, except for the opening band)so it was fine for our 10 year old as well.
It was a great evening...
Thanks again.

[graces]

That light curtain was gorgeous. I only wished I had taken my camera too. Your boys are adorable... I thought their family resemblance & vibe was so cute! Hope we're you in 8 or so years.

[I'm just sayin]

Hey you two, get a room!

[Bubba]

What IS this - the 'Leave It To Beaver' hour? No, seriously, I'm glad so many of you had a fun time at the KILLERS performance. Bet things will be really insane at the upcoming MARILYN MAN-WHORE / SLAYER gig in July. Wish it wasn't on the very same day as DEF LEPPARD.

[aquaman]

Bubba, dude - daycare centers around the area are planning field trips to this show....should be awesome.

[Bubba]

Aquaman - that should be great! Does this mean I can bring my aunt Hortense and her old friends from the ice cream social? Let me know.

[I M G Daddy]

Nice. There is and there can be no other - Bubba.

[t]

Buy Tosha a drink

[B]

Take me to the VIP

[Betty]

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