|
Killers have rare
bloom in Flowers
By Jed Gottlieb
Friday, October 27, 2006 - Updated: 06:58 AM EST
Boston Herald
If you want to be big, you’ve got to start thinking big. And the
Killers are thinking really big, or at least head Killer Brandon
Flowers is.
Last night, the band decked out the Orpheum stage like rodeo season
in Las Vegas circa ’79. Flashbulb lights ringed a sign advertising
“Sam’s Town” - the title of the Killers’ latest album - and mixed
with a massive, high-tech LED display. At the center of the rodeo
ring was Flowers.
Flowers has been thinking big for while. He knows that he’s got to
wow a couple hundred thousand concertgoers if he wants “Sam’s Town”
to hit with force, as the band’s triple-platinum debut, “Hot Fuss,”
did.
The Killers began with the operatic “Sam’s Town,” quickly
transitioned into “Enterlude,” then began in on the hits.
One after another, the band played the singles - “When You Were
Young,” “Somebody Told Me,” “Smile Like You Mean It” and “Bones.”
The new songs didn’t excite the crowd as much as the radio staples -
judging by the singalongs, not a lot of Bostonians have spent much
time with “Sam’s Town” yet. But Flowers was up for every song,
bounding around the stage and singing like he meant it.
It’s not entirely accurate to say that Flowers “IS” the Killers -
everyone helps write and arrange the songs - but his voice, looks
and ego are what make the band stand out. He’s the one jumping on
stage props, commanding the audience to scream and clap and dance.
While drummer Ronnie Vannucci pounded away on his skins looking like
a Keith Moon/Magnum P.I. hybrid, it was hard for him to rile the
crowd. Guitarist Dave Keuning and bassist Mark Stoermer weren’t much
help. They were like robots on stage. Standing in place is fine if
you’re Eric Clapton, but the Killers’ music demand more.
The Killers want to be America’s U2 (or at least its INXS), and they
have the songs to do it: “Sam’s Town” is rife with potential
anthems. Even the B-side that nearly nobody knew was packed with
hooks.
But Flowers needs a Keith, a Page, an Edge to play off of. Or,
barring that, just another monster like “Mr. Brightside.” Noone
seemed to notice anyone or anything but Flowers when the band ended
its set with the megahit.
http://www.thekillersfansite.comm |