Killers set for huge city return

Sarah Walters

 

THINK Las Vegas, think excess. Elvis, gambling, wall-to-wall shopping and skyscraper-sized billboards: one thing Vegas likes to be is noticed.

 

It's little surprise, then, that the city's biggest export since... well, entertainment... breezed out of Nevada with a cocksure swagger and covered in make-up.

 

They were known as The Killers - four Vegas boys armed with attitude, synths and a whole load of eyeliner.

 

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To be fair, they're a band that needs little introduction these days, particularly in the UK where they've scored two number one albums - in the shape of 2004's Hot Fuss and last year's Sam's Town - as well as six top 40 singles and, this week, two Brit Awards for best international group and album.

 

But more importantly, they cut their first live tooth in Britain, bringing the band over the Pond to fill a number of support slots in the nation's lavatorial venues after just a handful of dates in the States.

 

The story of their coming together reads like something out of the rock 'n' roll handbook. The two founding members met through an ad placed by guitarist Dave Keuning, to which the romantically named frontman Brandon Flowers responded.

 

They soon recruited a bassist and drummer and penned their signature tune, Mr Brightside, before some early personnel changes resulted in the current line-up, completed by bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr.

 

Namecheck

 

The band has regularly visited Manchester too, forming an early fond following. Which is perhaps no real surprise - the boys namecheck Depeche Mode, the Pet Shop Boys, Blur, Pulp and The Beatles as influences, giving their music a palpable English sheen.

 

And, geographically speaking, Manchester has a lot to answer for where The Killers are concerned. It was, according to Flowers, seeing Oasis that changed his mind on music.

 

The band are all self-confessed Smiths addicts and their name comes from a spoof band in a New Order video.

 

Since Springsteen-influenced Sam's Town hit the shelves (an album Brandon described as 'one of the best albums in the past 20 years', while critics were, shall we say, less enthusiastic) success has moved out of the fast lane and on to the racing track.

 

The Killers hit the M.E.N. Arena this Saturday to play a sold-out show in front of 15,000 fans. It's the sort of affirmation that will keep Brandon and the boys believing their own hype.

 

 

The Killers play the M.E.N. Arena on Saturday, February 17. Tickets are sold out.

 

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From Vegas to China in 24 hours

 

THE aircraft hanger that is the M.E.N. Arena will be transformed into Sam’s Town for one night only on Saturday night as Brandon and the boys welcome 15,000 visitors to enjoy their Las Vegas experience.

 

Confused? Well the Sam’s Town in question is continent-straddling Las Vegas four-piece The Killers’ Brit-winning sophomore LP, and Brandon, surname Flowers (pictured), is the quartet’s singer.

 

Enigmatic and charismatic in equal measure, Flowers is exactly what being a frontman is all about – oozing chutzpah and the ability to hold an audience in the palm of his hand on stage, while staying quietly confident and mysterious off it.

 

By mixing the Smiths and New Order-fused anthems from their first LP with the bombastic Americana of their second, The Killers now have a potent cocktail at their disposal – so it’s no wonder the gig sold out in a matter of minutes and is expected to lay down a marker for the rest of 2007.

 

You really have to feel for Babyshambles et al who foolishly scheduled shows on the same night.

 

SUNDAY may usually be a day for devouring the Sunday newspapers, avoiding all phone calls and flicking forlornly between the EastEnders omnibus, T4 and one of the several Karate Kid instalments on Channel 5 – but this weekend there is a great escape route out of the house on offer.

 

As the Chinese New Year celebrations will be in full flow from 1pm in the city’s Chinatown and the usual riot of colour, oriental sights and smells is expected to provide a welcome assault on the senses in what could be the perfect hangover cure.

 

I’ll be back on Monday to take a look at the week ahead – have a great couple of days!

 

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