Cardiff International Arena 05/03/07

The CIA is filled to its capacity tonight and with the tickets for the show selling out in matter of minutes, it’s no surprise that the frisson of excitement can be felt all around the arena; from the early arrival of the hard core fans to the more laid back spectator strolling in around 8pm.

The stage is set up for the arrival of the Killers and from the first looks at the stage props the crowd can see that we are going to be treated to something flamboyant and ornate, in true tradition with their Vegas background and the never subtle kind of brashness sported by front man Brandon Flower.

A giant white canvas curtain is drawn in front the whole stage and among the screams of the crowd, the haunting black and white images from the Sam’s Town cd, brilliantly capture by Anton Corbin, are shown for the delight of the crowd that is now on the verge of passing out from the heat and the expectation.

When the curtain is dropped the opening is blistering and beautifully choreographed with Flower strutting his diminutive frame and belting out Sam’s Town for the delights of all the presents. Contrary to what many may think, The Killers prove that, albeit the international success and the not so amazing second album, they are still an amazing live band. The four are taut together, a familiar and rehearsed easiness that never sounds fake and they all look and sound genuinely excited to be on stage.

This is the last date of a sold out tour and the band seems to want to raise the bar a notch, giving the audience a show that they won’t forget and they manage to do just that. Managing a show packed with classic from Hot Fuss and with little gems from Sam’s Town, they lift spirits, ignite passions and make the night something a little bit magic.

The biggest cheer of the night is, obviously, for Mr Brightside and All the Things that I have done, but when the band comes back for a third encore, after having played for almost one and half hours, and Brandon start whispering:

It’s good to have you with us
Even if it’s just for the day
It’s good to have you with us even if it’s just for the day
Outside the sun is shining, seems like heaven ain’t far away

Some people in the crowd have tears in their eyes, thinking that maybe, just maybe, for two hours, heaven was made of bright lights, bodies pressed together and music.

The Killers are brash and bright and beautiful like Vegas at night.

Let yourself be burnt.

We did.

And it was AMAZING.

by Laila