THE KILLERS | LIVE REVIEW
Cardiff Castle, Fri 28 June
The Killers visited Cardiff for the first time since 2012 on Friday, to kick off a jam-packed Sounds Of The City weekender at Cardiff Castle. On the hottest day of the year so far, the fans flocked to the city landmark to welcome the Las Vegas showmen back with open arms. Bounding onstage in trademark cowboy boots and glittering suit, a simple introduction of “Cardiff, what’s occurring?” from flamboyant frontman Brandon Flowers meant the show was underway.
With five albums under their belt, the setlist very much stuck to the favourites, peppered with old Hot Fuss hits, Sam’s Town singles, and a few other classics here and there. Launching with Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine, surprisingly it was swiftly followed by Mr Brightside, which really shook off any sun-induced subduedness and set the tone for the fast-paced gig that was to follow. An explosion of pink confetti midway got the crowd screaming for a double header of The Man and Run For Cover, before slowing it down momentarily for A Dustland Fairytale and a cover of The Alarm’s Rain In The Summertime. Could they have done their homework for the usual Welsh weather?
Even in the intense heat, you absolutely could not fault the energy that Flowers brought to the stage. Never keeping still for more than a minute, he leapt from side to side, interacting with the crowd and genuinely grinning like he was having a whale of a time – a performer through and through. So when the slow build-up for everyone’s much-loved chant in All These Things That I’ve Done began, he simply held the mic out to the crowd and laughed, “you don’t need me”.
Paying tribute to the roaring Welsh crowd before an epic encore of Midnight Show and When You Were Young, Flowers took a moment to look out over the grounds and with a smile asked, “Can you all come and be our crowd tomorrow at Glastonbury?” The answer was a resounding roar.
words ANNIE BISHOP photos ROB LOUD
