The Killers are one of the most well-known touring bands out there, with a career of hits  spanning over two decades. They are also known as one of the best live acts going around, with lead singer Brandon Flowers having an inimitable presence which has gained the band a loyal following as they have travelled around the world. 

As they came into Sydney for two shows, it was very clear that they had modelled their “Rebel Diamonds” set on a Vegas residency, with a vibrant neon lighting board illuminating the set as the band walked onto stage. Flowers himself donned a glittery black suit, positioning himself as the gateway between the audience and a thrilling night. 

“I believe you guys are coming here to have a good time, right?” he asked the crowd. “Well that happens to be our speciality.”

The Qudos Bank Arena is a fairly soulless venue most of the time, with the seats so far away from the action that is very hard for the whole audience to connect with the artists on stage. But, on this night, the Killers created an atmosphere quite unlike any I had seen before at the venue, with the whole place absolutely rocking from the outset. Their smash-hit “Somebody Told Me” was performed right at the start of the set and the atmosphere was electric, with the crowd chanting the lyrics along as Flowers pranced around the stage.

The show felt very polished and refined, very much resembling the Vegas residency shows but Flowers managed to sprinkle a bit of Aussie flair throughout the set, with frequent reference to the influence of INXS on the band. He took this to the next level, by performing a fabulous cover of “Don’t Change”, which delighted the Sydney crowd. It was a fantastic personal touch which only added to the ambiance of the show. 

The set seemed to go from hit to hit, showing the variety in The Killers’ discography. A significant number of songs came from the band’s signature “Hot Fuss” album, with “Jenny Was a Friend of Mine” and “Smile Like You Mean It” getting the crowd going in the early part of the setlist. 

While the energy slowed a little in the middle of the set, the falsetto-driven “The Man” was the perfect break in style to lift the crowd up again, picking up a groove in the audience. The band moved into the ballads part of the show and did so seamlessly, with “A Dustland Fairytale” and “Be Still” prompting the crowd to put their lights up. 

The set was a perhaps a little too long, but as the band reached the end of the main set and their encore, they certainly saved up their biggest hits for a final onslaught. “All These Things That I’ve Done” and “When You Were Young” were put right next to each other in the setlist, for which Flowers made use of the entire stage as he bounced around to connect with everyone in the audience. 

The penultimate song in the set was “Human” which had the whole audience singing along. Given that a large majority of the set was rocking, upbeat songs, it was refreshing to have a song that showed off Flowers’ skill as a vocalist in a more meaningful way, which this song, one of the band’s best, certainly did. It was no surprise that the night closed with “Mr. Brightside”, although the band did begin with a fake slowed-down rendition before launching into the iconic version that had the whole crowd chanting at the top of their lungs. It was a great way to close a set that demonstrated showmanship at its absolute finest. The Killers know how to work a crowd and on a balmy Sydney night, that is certainly what they did. 

Rating: ★★★★1/2

The Killers – Qudos Bank Arena – 6^th December 2024

All photo credits: Chris Phelps