Review: Brandon Flowers

Photo by Bill Brownlee

Intimacy doesn't suit Brandon Flowers. His exaggerated gestures and grandiose songs seemed out of place in the tight confines of Liberty Hall on Saturday. The capacity audience of more than 1,000 wasn't lacking in enthusiasm, but Flowers' bombastic arena rock demands the synchronized fist pumping of thousands of fans to achieve critical mass.

As the front man of the Killers, Flowers is accustomed to playing to far larger audiences. His band attracted nearly 9,000 fans to Sandstone in May 2009. Flowers is touring in support of "Flamingo," his solid solo debut album. While his compact 65-minute performance was energetic, Flowers has yet to learn that playing to the rafters in a small theater looks silly. Saturday's careful choreography, elaborate lighting and booming sound were overbearing in Liberty Hall.

The lack of subtlety and the absence of nuance made Flowers seem insincere. When his patter wasn't trite -- "Let's go for it" was a typical remark -- it seemed forced. Only his introduction to a song about his home, "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas," didn't seem mechanical. While Flowers was unsuccessful in forging a bond with the audience, his music was entirely convincing.

A faithful cover of the Kim Carnes hit "Betty Davis Eyes" reflected Flowers' affinity with the musical landscape of the early '80s. The new wave of the Cars, the dance-pop of Hall & Oates and the corporate rock of Foreigner echoed clearly in his music. Flowers may not be an innovator, but he's a master synthesist. Only one song, the oddly jaunty "The Clock Was Tickin'," deviated from his savvy formula. That misstep aside, Flowers' gift for crafting unforgettable rock songs remains intact. New song "Swallow It," for instance, sounded no less powerful than "Losing Touch," the Killers hit that preceded it.

Flowers' excellent six-piece band performed with anonymous precision. Only while preparing to play the evening's final selection, an acoustic version of the Killers' "When You Were Young," did he single out "Jake from Kansas City, Missouri." That would be Kansas City-based Jake Blanton. While the multi-instrumentalist didn't have much room to showcase his talent, Blanton's contributions were unflaggingly impressive.

Flowers may have stepped away from his successful band at its commercial peak, but the same can't be said for opening act Fran Healy. The last time Healy's band Travis performed at Liberty Hall, the Scotsman recalled that "we played to sixty people."

Healy was as affable as Flowers was aloof in his charming 35-minute performance. He befriended a nine-year-old near the stage and told a series of amusing anecdotes. His thin but flexible voice and quaint songs like "As It Comes" and "Buttercups" easily won over the audience. His self-deprecating demeanor didn't prevent Healy from doing some serious name dropping. He explained how he'd cajoled both Neko Case and Paul McCartney into contributing to his new solo album. Healy related that he was initially unsure of how to appropriately reciprocate the latter's assistance.

"What do you get a Beatle?" Healy asked. "I became a vegetarian to say thanks."

Flowers would be well-served to study Healy's ingratiating tactics. Although he's a relatively slight talent, Healy proved Saturday that bigger isn't always better.

Brandon Flowers set list: On the Floor; Crossfire; Magdalena; Bette Davis Eyes; Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts; Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas; Was It Something I Said?; Hard Enough; Losing Touch; Swallow It; Only the Young; Playing With Fire; The Clock Was Tickin'; When You Were Young.

Fran Healy set list: Sing; Sing Me To Sleep; Moonshine; Dear Diary; As It Comes; Writing To Reach You; Buttercups.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[Andrew Warhola]

Man, this guy's ego has run rampant. I was bored with The Killers before their first album went platinum and part of the reason is Brandon. He just seems like an annoying little twit. When I think Rock Music, Brandon Flowers is part of the reason it's dying as an Art form.

[trdedektiflik]

thank you

[Brandon Flowers Tickets]

Flowers, we can't give u sth beautiful than ur name, Flowers! You deserve a lot of Flowers!