The Killers
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The Killers
October 3, 2009
American Airlines Arena
Miami, FL
Review by: Katie Condon
Photos by: Kevin Allen
A confused crowd made its way to the American Airlines Arena on October 3. Many seemed puzzled to see drinking at what they assumed was a family event, but they should have thought twice before bringing their kids to The Killers’ first ever performance in Miami.
The "victims" varied from young-love teens to 30-year-old frat boys and their girlfriends, who should really check the age limit for knee-high boots and sparkle tees. Regardless, everyone was down to see The Killers, well, kill it.
While the rich were getting their last-minute pretzels and nachos, Brooklyn natives Chairlift kicked off the show. The low lighting may have pissed off photographers, but it matched flawlessly with the eerie tribal sounds. Vocalists Aaron Pfenning and Caroline Polachek sounded like a collaboration of David Bowie and Feist, complimenting each other along with drummer Patrick Wimberly. They lived through their music on stage, playing trippy songs such as "Garbage" and their single, "Bruises," off 2008’s Does You Inspire You (2008).
David Keuning, guitarist for The Killers
Unlike most South Florida shows, the audience respected and cheered on the opening band. Yet, the Home of the Heat didn't fill up until The Killers were on stage opening with "Joy Ride" from the 2008 record Day & Age. The venue turned into a light show as Brandon Flowers jumped onstage and threw the crowd back to their MTV hit single, "Somebody Told Me." He really got down to business when he traded his signature jacket for a guitar to play "For Reasons Unknown."
Flowers apologized for the band waiting seven years to come to Miami. "I don't know what we were thinking—I’m sorry," he said.
The Killers brought sax and violin players with them on tour, and when they invited Chairlift back on stage to cover The Church's "Under the Milky Way," there was a total of 11 artists on stage. Consistently surprising the crowd, guitarist Dave Keuning and Flowers teamed up for an intimate cover of a couple lines from Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love with You."
The "victims" varied from young-love teens to 30-year-old frat boys and their girlfriends, who should really check the age limit for knee-high boots and sparkle tees.
The Killers' Ronnie Vannucci, drums,
Brandon Flowers, vocals, and Mark Stoermer, bass
The height of the show, however, was when the crowd was left to sing on their own for "All These Things That I've Done," during the resounding line: "I got soul, but I'm not a soldier."
During the encore, Flowers decided he just couldn’t keep it clean for the whole night. "We have one more song left in us," he said. "We're gonna play it as hard as we can. Are you ready to receive it as hard as you can?"
The band closed with "When You Were Young" from the 2006 album Sam's Town and left most playing air-Guitar Hero, as the song appears on the game.
Although I'm not fond of larger venues, I'll be The Killers' victim any day.
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