Live Review: The Killers – 27th November 2017 – The O2 Arena, London, UK
2 min read
Even if people don’t really know The Killers, they are definitely still a fan of The Killers. The Las Vegas natives this week returned to the capital for one last victory lap with most recent album Wonderful Wonderful. The result was a sequin powered dance party filled to the brim with iconic indie moments.
From the minute The Killers walk onstage to Wonderful Wonderful, the sense of enjoyment amongst the crowd is heavily palpable. Diverse in age and walk of life, the unifying power of The Killers made last nights show a celebration of their illustrious career so far. Each word is sung – nay screamed – with so much gusto it often feels the roof may simply take flight. Millennials rejoice at hearing the lifetime defining chords of Read My Mind, Spaceman and Smile Like You Mean It.
Frontman Brandon Flowers poses and twirls his way across the large stage, standing above speakers and proving without a doubt just how driving a presence he remains. Newer songs such as Run For Cover are given glamorous makeovers, bringing plenty of Vegas magic with it. The band are flanked by a trio of backing vocalists in exceptionally sparkly suits, a style Brandon later dons for the encore.
Confetti is pumped across the entire arena at just two songs in, a colourful way of reassuring the crowd there was a true sense of celebration occurring here. The Killers are one of the tightest sounding live bands in the world, and the consistency at which they pull off some of the biggest songs in the world is second to none. The Man drenches the room in a wave of pink lighting, as Flowers flexes his way through some quite spectacular poses.
The crowd’s enthusiasm is matched by that of the band, but the highest reception is reserved for the one and only Mr Brightside. Delivered as the last song of the encore, it is met with scenes of euphoria and plenty of outstretched arms from those old enough to have frequented indie discos over the years.
At the very final moments of the gig, The Killers are still soaking up every ounce of fun in everything they do. The crowd takes the party as far as the tube station, where renditions of classic Killers cuts reverberate around the platforms. Each member of The Killers is the man, nothing can bring them down.
Setlist:
Wonderful Wonderful
The Man
Somebody Told Me
Spaceman
The Way It Was
Run for Cover
I Can’t Stay
Smile Like You Mean It
For Reasons Unknown
Shot at the Night
Rut
Life to Come
Human
This River Is Wild
A Dustland Fairytale
Romeo and Juliet (Dire Straits cover)
Runaways
Read My Mind
All These Things That I’ve Done
Encore:
The Calling
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
When You Were Young
Mr. Brightside
