The Killers conjure arena rock excitement in Pittsburgh

Scott Tady, Beaver County Times
·4 min read
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PITTSBURGH – A purple blazer and rainbow of lasers, with confetti canons, and video projections showing deserts, the Vegas strip and starry, starry nights, brought visual impact.

Tight, crisp and loud arena-rock of an alternative-meets-heartland variety filled the sold-out arena.

Such were the sights and sounds of The Killers playing a truly long-awaited show at the Petersen Events Center.

Brandon Flowers and The Killers at a sold-out Petersen Events Center.
Brandon Flowers and The Killers at a sold-out Petersen Events Center.

"Welcome to the better-late-than-never Imploding the Mirage Tour," said singer Brandon Flowers, perched behind an infinity symbol-shaped keyboard.

The Killers playing a sold-out Petersen Events Center.
The Killers playing a sold-out Petersen Events Center.

Originally slated for Oct. 8, 2020, the concert got rescheduled a few times due to the pandemic, finally occurring after an 892-day delay.

The Killers drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. seen through the band's infinity symbol-shaped keyboards.
The Killers drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. seen through the band's infinity symbol-shaped keyboards.

Flowers and his touring band ― Robbie Connolly on keys, Jacob Blanton on bass, southpaw Theodore Sablay on lead guitar, Taylor Milne on rhythm guitar/keys/backing vocals and co-founding drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. on drums ― made sure the wait was worth it, starting explosively with "My Own Soul's Warning" and soon getting to the first of many sing-along fan favorites, "When We Were Young."

The Killers rocked a sold-out Petersen Events Center.
The Killers rocked a sold-out Petersen Events Center.

The Killers rocked relentlessly, soaring on songs like "Jenny was a Friend of Mine," the '80s-ish synth-pop, kick-drum powered "Shot at The Night" and "Human" with nice, multi-textured riffage from Sablay and Flowers evoking a Frampton-comes-alive-ish talk box distorted effect on vocals.

"Spaceman" was one of several songs backdropped with desert-and-stars video imagery. A remote-control-operated camera on Hollywood-style train tracks, captured live band footage, including Flowers, resplendent in his top-buttoned purple jacket, roaming the entire width of the stage, sometimes from atop a riser that spanned its length.

A very diverse-aged crowd ― general admission floor spectators and those standing in front of their seats ― loudly cheered, lightly danced and looked well-behaved throughout, as The Killers fed off their energy.

"Sunday nights aren't supposed to feel like this ... you know it's Sunday night, right?" Flowers said.

He wasn't above a bit of pandering, reminding everyone his dad grew up in Meadville, and since his childhood home of Las Vegas lacked a pro football team then, he grew up a Pittsburgh Steelers fan like his father.

"So, yellow and black my whole life," Flowers said.

Brandon Flowers and The Killers rocked the Petersen Events Center.
Brandon Flowers and The Killers rocked the Petersen Events Center.

The delightfully bouncy, 2004 alt-rock radio hit "Somebody Told Me" got the crowd bopping and filming video footage.

There was a little rust, though, as the band needed two tries to nail the intro to "The Getting By."

The three female backup singers were put to good use in "A Dustland Fairytale," a 15-year-old Killers song remade in 2021 in collaboration by Bruce Springsteen, reflecting The Killers' evolution into heartland rock. I'd have liked the backup singers featured more prominently.

The Killers' drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. in action in Pittsburgh.
The Killers' drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. in action in Pittsburgh.

"Runaways" brought another wave of audience participation on the "we can't wait till tomorrow" lines, and later some rhythmic clapping on the beat.

More arena rock tricks awaited, as sparks rained down behind the drum kit for "Caution." For "All of These Things I've Done," fans sang along to the "I got soul, but I'm not a soldier" refrain.

Sound quality sometimes has been an issue at The Pete, but I found the lyrics and mix to be quite sharp Sunday at the lower level. But watching the encore from an elevated spot in the back of the arena, it wasn't as clean of a sound.

The Killers launched their encore with "The Man," given some Arcade Fire-ish arena-funk-rock. Then at last came "Mr. Brightside," one of the premier rock songs of the 2000s, as multi-hued lasers beamed throughout the highly satisfied arena.

Speaking of bright sides, it was a bummer the show took a few years to finally happen, but as Flowers said, at least fans got to see a fresher version of the band, "and we've got more gigs under our belt than ever before."

They delivered an excellent night of arena rock.

Brandon Flowers brought non-stop energy to Sunday's sold-out show by The Killers.
Brandon Flowers brought non-stop energy to Sunday's sold-out show by The Killers.

I saw some Twitter grumbling that the originally scheduled opening act, guitarist Johnny Marr of The Smiths and Modest Mouse, no longer is on the tour.

They should've seen Marr at Mr. Smalls Theatre in 2013, he was wonderful.

The Lemon Twigs opened for The Killers on Sunday and won me over with their crisp, crackling, power-pop sound.

The Lemon Twigs at the Petersen Events Center.
The Lemon Twigs at the Petersen Events Center.

More:Broadway shows headed to Pittsburgh

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Finally: The Killers conjure arena rock excitement in Pittsburgh