The Killers Killed

We went to see the Killers Friday night and they were very very good. I really enjoyed the concert.

I know! No one is more surprised by this than me. No one.

The set was brief (90 minutes to the second), but it was tight and well performed.

Granted we were on the older end of the spectrum (which is becoming a more and more frequent occurrence).

We took my 14 year old nephew and one of his friends. It was supposed to be my 16 year old niece, but she opted not to go. At first I was very disappointed she decided not to attend, but as I looked around the audience, it was extremely male dominated. What few women I saw there were in the 20-24 year old range and dates of a guy, usually in a group of other guys. It was probably good things turned out the way they did.

I have both Killer's CDs and like them, but they have never really heavy rotation choices for me. After last night, I might give them another chance or chances. We were clearly in the minority of not knowing the lyrics to each and everyone of the songs.

To be honest, except to kick off the songs, I don't even know that the lead singer, Brandon Flowers (no relation....I don't think) was needed. People did not just lightly sing along with the band - but honest to g-d, it they all concert-goers did full-on vocals...as loud as they could go. To EVERY song.

It was fun to watch and it left me thinking of how when I took my oldest niece (the one who bailed on us) to see Pocahontas when she was...maybe three (?), and the big song ("Colours of the Wind") came on - every three year old in the theatre sang along. I realized, many of the folks from that era/cohort were now in this arena doing the same thing. The thought of that did bring a big smile to my face.

Honestly, I don't think I've ever been to a concert where from first note to last, every single person was on their feet. I'm not a fist-pumper in the air kind of guy, and again, that clearly left us in the minority.

I will say - the opening act, Louis XIV, absolutely sucked. Their first song sounded amazingly like 'Ballroom Blitz'.....and I am not saying that is a good thing, and then it all went downhill from there. I do not mind loud bands - and they were - but I think they were just using volume to cover up the fact how incredibly bad they were. And I swear the set seemed non-ending.

On a more humourous note, were the guys in front of us. Two sets, actually. Sitting next to each other, but attending together. One a mixed-race and seemingly miss-matched couple. The other was at first glance to be two straight men. One was classically handsome, one just kind off blue-collar off-set handsome....at least to me.

It wasn't until the music started that I began to suspect that the classic guy was probably not straight at all. It was in the way he moved to the music. No straight man moves to music this way. Actually no gay man does either, unless he's taken post-graduate courses at the Dick Dancer Academy - specializing in how to move on a pedestal or cage (or both). It's a good thing that I didn't have a bunch of singles in my back pocket.

His "friend" seemed quite unaware of how his "buddy" shook this money-maker. Or maybe he's seen it all too often. The backstory I created in my mind already knew he could go to the concert and not be late for work - as he probably didn't have to be in his thong atop of the bar until midnight.