Toon rock to Killers
Nov 24 2006
By Liz Lamb, The Evening Chronicle
The Killers, Carling Academy last night - It was a night of Glamorous Indie Rock `n' Roll at the Academy last night when Las Vegas rockers The Killers played their first sell-out gig in Newcastle.Anyone who had managed to get their hands on a ticket, after the gig sold out in less than five minutes, must have felt they got their money's worth.
The hall was packed, the beer was flowing, the fans were up for a good time and the atmosphere was electric.
After arriving on stage following one of the longest intro's in concert history The Killers launched into Sam's Town, the title track of their new album.
Frontman Brandon Flowers was suitably-attired for the evening, dressed in a tuxedo and a black tie and performing against a backdrop of white lights and bunting that depicted Sam's Town.
When they sang their hit Smile Like You Mean It their fans didn't have to fake a reaction. Everyone knew the lyrics, and at times, the crowd appeared to drown out Flowers' vocals, so loud was their appreciation
The mix of people in the Academy showed just how far The Killers have come. There was mums and dads with young kids, couples in their forties and fifties, students, Indie chicks, and an army of twenty-something town lads, who made up a great chunk of the crowd.
When the first notes of Somebody Told Me hit their ears I thought the place was going to explode. Everybody was bouncing up and down and singing along.
Like any good live act The Killers played a mix of classics and new songs. Bones, Jenny Was A Friend of Mine, Mr Brightside and For Reasons Unknown, all went down well.
But if there was one song that shaped the evening it was All These Things That I've Done.
After The Killers had retired from the stage and the crowd begged for an encore, the hall was drowned out by them singing the chorus.
"I've Got Soul but I'm Not A Soldier" chanted everyone while clapping their hands and stomping their feet.
Eventually, the band came back on stage and after a little teasing sang the song the fans were so desperate to hear.
Flowers seemed genuinely taken aback by the crowd's obvious devotion. He jumped on top of a speaker and held a microphone out to the audience as they took over singing.
The Killers certainly didn't disappoint last night. The only negative was that maybe Brandon could have indulged in a little more banter.
If last night's gig was anything to go by though, The Killers will be receiving another brilliant reception when they return to Newcastle next year.

 

 

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