The Killers - London Barfly @ Monarch - 3/12/03
4/5
By: Samantha Hall
Funny. For a set of newcomers that have just inked the biggest record-deal in the history of Las Vegas rock 'n' roll (we assume that's some feat), The Killers have received surprisingly little media-attention. Yet, lest it be known - such lack of press-interest, or - perhaps even more likely - initiative, is inconsequential to the somewhat striking audience reactions to this, The Killer's second round of UK dates.
Beating out fat, obese tune after fat, glitzy tune, their hometown Vegas glamour dribbles all over the miniscule stage. And, aptly, their late hot single 'Mr Brightside' stands for everything to judge them by - addictive, running choruses and astute, chipper drumming, housed and doused in a pop-fuelled package endowed further with 80's synths and Morrissey-style ghostly shivers amidst the vocal-quarters.
In the notoriously funky-ass Barfly this evening, reactions are riotous - whoops and cries of 'encore' are rare - about as rare as you not thinking of Elvis when we mention a Vegas rock band. Yet not on this occasion. Tonight simply breaks the mould; jiggling industry types are abound - for once, some smiling, others clapping - the supposed 'cool observers' at the back... Finally, the British music-insiders have succumbed, and now it's your turn.
But word on the star-studded street at Island/Def Jam Records is The Killers are now laying low, recording tracks for a debut album, which will be released around spring/summer-time next year. And what a corker it will be; 'til then, though, there are showcases such as this... Forgetting the imitative stadium antics of bassist Stoermer's 'guitar revolver shots', a frontman who goes by the name of 'Brandon Flowers'... (ya-hah?) and a guitarist that scarily resembles Adam Ant, with titles such as 'Smile Like You Mean It' and lyrics bellowing 'Destiny's calling!', what isn't there to cherish?
As such, The Killers experience is a bizarre one - like a tangled conception of a striptease with fur stools, sherbet-rimmed margaritas and teenage boys wearing Old Spice. They're everything you'd want a Vegas band to be rather than everything they should be.
Artists in this article: The Killers
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