Las Vegas band Killers rocks with style at Cotillion

Under dark skies and near-flood conditions, the Killers invaded the Cotillion ballroom Saturday night. But with a show that lasted barely an hour, the invasion was short-lived.

The Las Vegas band brought its version of fashion pop-rock before a sold-out crowd.

The Killers, like their obvious influences Duran Duran and the Cure, have become MTV staples over the past year. By combining pop, dance, rock and a hint of techno, they are hoping to keep the current '80s revival alive.

"Besides the ladies and the alcohol, I'm here for the music," said fan Chris Koenig. "It's techno/'80s/alternative rock. And it's pretty good to listen to."

When the band took the stage after 9:30 and the lights dropped, fans went crazy.

"Hello. We are the Killers," announced lead singer Brandon Flowers. The band then kicked into its hit single, "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine."

Sixty weeks and 2 million copies after its release, it turns out the Killers aptly titled debut "Hot Fuss" is just that. They've had three hit singles and, if the buzz around the Cotillion is an indication, the band can only go up.

"For one, they're playing at the Cotillion, which is great because it's small and you see everything," Koenig said. "Two, the Killers have one of the best debut albums in a long time. It rocks."

The crowd of teens and early 20s dressed for the music as if it were more a fashion event than a rock concert. Girls screamed every time Flowers spoke or moved. And he did that a lot.

Flowers, dressed in bright white, appeared to glow under the haze of lights. The other band members, while fashionably dressed, looked closer to hip salesmen than rockers in front of Flowers. But, of course, that is the look. And the Killers might as well patent it in a music environment ripe for something fresh and different.

With every song, the crowd grew more enthusiastic. And when the band paused briefly and left the stage after playing for about 45 minutes, the fans started chanting "We want more."

The band happily obliged. Flowers, who had changed into a dark-striped jacket, manned a sparkling keyboard and dove into the first of two final numbers.

The band may have only three current hits, but clearly the crowd knew "Hot Fuss" by heart, singing along with every song.

Opening act Richard Johnston, appearing and sounding like a misplaced relic from the 1970s, didn't seem at first to fit a group yearning for fashion pop. But he performed admirably, warming up a crowd thirsty for rock.

"I came for the Killers but I was impressed by the opening act, Robert Johnston," said Jake Socha. "He didn't fit the Killers crowd, but was really good."