The Killers Kick Off “Imploding the Mirage Tour” with Raucous Hometown Gig in Vegas: Recap + Photos

The post The Killers Kick Off “Imploding the Mirage Tour” with Raucous Hometown Gig in Vegas: Recap + Photos appeared first on Consequence.

It has been said there is nothing quite like a Killers show in Las Vegas, and that statement will echo three times over to sold-out crowds April 15th, 16th and 17th as the city’s unofficial “house band” launches the “Imploding The Mirage Tour” at The Chelsea in The Cosmopolitan.

For Friday’s opening night, The Killers showed up with everything which has endeared them to their hometown crowd for more than two decades—a jumping, pumping, sing-along dance party for 3,200 brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends.

Frontman Brandon Flowers, backed by drummer Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., and guitarist Dave Keuning delivered a 90-minute, soulful, thunderous, biographical musical journey, performing songs from six of the band’s seven studio albums. (Absent from the setlist, Wonderful Wonderful). Rounding out the sound were touring musicians Jake Blanton (bass), Ted Sablay Guitar), and Robbie Connelly (keys) as well as three backing vocalists took the stage. (Bassist Mark Stoermer is still on hiatus, but reports say he will return for a forthcoming eighth album.)

Having released two records since 2020, Imploding the Mirage and Pressure Machine, the April 15th show ushered in the official live debut for many tracks.

As the lights came up on The Chelsea’s stage Friday night, the screen held an image of “Dance of the Wind and Storm” by artist Thomas Blackshear, the cover art for Imploding the Mirage. To match the visual, the night began with the live debut of “My Own Soul’s Warning.” The first few bars met with a shower of confetti—usually such a thing is a closing moment—but this party was just beginning. Flowers then took the band into “Dying Breed,” also from Imploding. Stepping back in time to Sam’s Town and Day & Age with “Bling (Confession of a King)” and “Human” the crowd soon got a sense of the evening’s narrative, weaving through decades and albums on a symphonic magic carpet ride through the desert.

Introducing ITM’s “Blowback,” Flowers shared that femininity played a large role in shaping the song and the album. “One of the words that was floating around a lot when we were writing Imploding the Mirage was femininity,” he told the crowd. “I was blessed by the woman in my life because she showed me that femininity was not just about having soft skin. There’s a lot more to that and a lot of strength involved. Steinbeck once said ‘a loving woman was indestructible,’ and I say amen to that.” “Blowback” was preceded by the live debut of “Running Towards a Place” and, later on, of “Fire in Bone.”

Photo by Rob Loud

Taking a break from the new, “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me” were firmly planted midset—complete with signature line: “We are The Killers, brought to you by way of Fabulous Las Vegas,” the statement which got the loudest cheers of the night.

The night featured three songs from Pressure Machine, “Cody,” “In the Car Outside” and the live debut of “The Getting By II,” before the pages turned back to Battle Born’s “Runaways,” Sam’s Town’s “Read My Mind” and Hot Fuss’ “All These Things That I’ve Done,” complete with the infectious call and response “I’ve got soul but i’m not a soldier … ”

The four-part encore came as the biggest surprise of the evening, with classics such as “Spaceman,” “Midnight Show,” “When You Were Young” and the new “Caution”—a buffet with a sampling of all the eras of The Killers.

To say the “Imploding the Mirage Tour” is long-anticipated would be an understatement for both The Killers and their fans. The band played several spates of smaller gigs and festivals over the last two years, but nothing with this measure of glory.

Addressing the crowd, Flowers said with relief: “[We are] finally [getting to] perform Imploding the Mirage…”

“Imploding the Mirage” also marks the official return of Keuning, who stopped touring in 2017, while remaining a member of the group. He did not contribute to the tour’s title album, but did join in studio for Pressure Machine and is also working on the band’s eighth album.

After Las Vegas, The Killers will tour in Mexico, UK and Ireland, before hitting Europe this summer and then back to the U.S. for dozens of dates from August to October. You can purchase tickets to all of the band’s upcoming shows here.

Setlist:
My Own Soul’s Warning (Live debut)
Dying Breed
Bling (Confession of a King)
Human
Blowback
Running Towards a Place (Live debut)
Mr. Brightside
Somebody Told Me
Fire in Bone (Live debut)
Cody
In the Car Outside
Smile Like You Mean It
The Getting By II (Live debut)
Be Still
Runaways
Read My Mind
All These Things That I’ve Done

Encore:
Spaceman
Midnight Show
When You Were Young
Caution

Photo by Rob Loud

Photo by Rob Loud

Photo by Rob Loud

Photo by Rob Loud

The Killers Kick Off “Imploding the Mirage Tour” with Raucous Hometown Gig in Vegas: Recap + Photos
Melinda Sheckells

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